Kathy,

Have you checked your silver. In the past, I have had to open a new bottle
of silver, even though I had a half of bottle left. Something else to check
is the PH of your tap water and distilled water. I know that it sounds
strange to check the distilled water water, but we needed to change and use
the Millipore system. This was a derm lab in a teaching hospital setting. I
also have a very nice procedure that seems to be fail safe. I will be glad
to email it to you.

If you have any questions feel free to email me.

Mari Ann Mailhiot BA HT
Applications Specialist
Technical Assistance Center
Leica Microsystems
847 317 7267




"Johnston, Kathy"  on 04/26/2002 12:34:18 PM

To:   "Histonet (E-mail)" 
cc:

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



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