-----Original Message-----
From: McCollough, Carol 
Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2000 11:22 AM
To: 'Kelly Pruitt'
Subject: RE: *#@!sticking base molds HELP!


Kelly:

What my lab has used in the past is a solution of 50ml of glycerin (from the
drugstore) in 1L of 95% ethanol.  Pour about 250ml (or enough to submerge
10-15 molds) in a dish and keep your working molds in it as you embed.  No
need to heat molds (in fact, dangerous because of the ethanol).  Drain each
mold well before using, place on the hot spot of your embedding center and
allow the ethanol to evaporate, add paraffin and embed.  The block face will
never be as smooth as using uncoated molds, and you have to be careful that
your tissue doesn't project into a 'bubble' of glycerin on the bottom of the
mold.  You can reuse this solution after filtering until it gets thick (as
the ethanol evaporates).  Our blocks always popped within minutes, often
even before the paraffin in the cassette top was solid.

I was taught to embed using this dip, but I have ceased using this method,
as have all 3 other techs here. The block faces can be horrid if you go too
fast, and it is difficult to get good quality multiple-tissue blocks (which
we do a lot of).

Anyway, Hope this helps.

Regards -
Carol
*****************
Carol B. McCollough, HT(ASCP)
Diagnostics & Histology Laboratory Manager
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Fisheries Service
Cooperative Oxford Laboratory
904 S. Morris Street
Oxford, MD 21654


-----Original Message-----
From: Kelly Pruitt [mailto:kpruitt@cvm.tamu.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2000 10:32 AM
To: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
Subject: *#@!sticking base molds HELP!


Hi Histoland!  I need help. 

What can I do to keep my base molds from sticking to my blocks?  We clean
them in xylene and then soap and water.  We air dry them.  We treat/spray
them while they are clean with Histo Prep after they have air dried.  I give
them a good coating when I use the Histo Prep.  The larger molds are usually
good for one use.  On the biopsy molds, they stick every time.  It doesn't
matter what I do.  

We have bought some of the plastic disposable molds, but they slow embedding
down for me.  

Does anyone have a clue what the problem is?  Does anyone know what I can
do?  Please help!

Kelly S. Pruitt, HT (ASCP)
Texas A&M University
College of Veterinary Medicine
Dept. of Veterinary Anatomy & Public Health
Histology Laboratory
College Station, Texas 77868-4458
kpruitt@cvm.tamu.edu
phone: 409-845-3177
fax: 409-847-8981