1st of all - is your glass ware acid cleaned? 2nd - Do you have a neighbor
that you could ask to do parallel stains - just to see if it might be
something in the processing? If the same thing happens at your neighbor's,
then you'll know it's not just the stain.  Just my first thoughts.  
Joyce Weems
Pathology Manager
Saint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta


	-----Original Message-----
	From:	Johnston, Kathy [SMTP:Kathy.Johnston@CLS.ab.ca]
	Sent:	Friday, April 26, 2002 1:34 PM
	To:	Histonet (E-mail)
	Subject:	Grocott problems

	We have been experiencing problems with our GMS stain over the past
few
	weeks.  We run both a control slide containing fungal hyphae, and p.
carnii
	to cover our bases.  Our problem is: it is taking much longer to
stain in
	silver, and after we tone, and Na thio the slides, they are so pale
(or non
	existent), that they are unacceptable.

	We have made new: 5% silver, 3% methenamine, 5% borax, stock silver
	methenamine, 5% chromic acid, 0.1% gold chloride, and 2% sodium
thio.  All
	to little avail other than to be able to make them acceptable to
sent out,
	but not up to our usual standard.

	Any help on this very frustrating dilemma would be greatly
appreciated!

	Thanks in advance!

	Kathy Johnston
	Tech II - Special Stains
	Anatomic Pathology - Foothills Medical Center
	Calgary Laboratory Services
	Ph - 403-670-4760
	Fax - 403-270-4093
	kathy.johnston@cls.ab.ca