I've had two Bond Max instruments in my laboratory since last December (I also have 4 Dako autostainers).  The machine is incredible; very simple to use (even I can do it).  It does everything except coverslip the slide.  Each machine will stain up to 30 slides and you have the option of continuous throughput.  You can start 10 slides, then add another 10, and so on.  I have never seen more "robust" immunohistochemical stains.  However, you will need to re-titer your primary antibodies, but this is a good thing.  Using their Bond Polymer Refine detection kit, we have found that we can dilute our primaries 1 or 2 fold and get better reactivity than what we saw before.  They offer a beautiful alkaline phosphatase (red) detection kit as well.  You pre-select the antigen retrieval when you input your antibodies into the machine's computer.  The low and high pH antigen retrievals on the machine are very good, and there is never any tissue loss (even with their high pH).  I like the fact that I can change the antigen retrieval depending on the type of specimen.  For example, if I am staining a core biopsy from a lymph node that was "rushed" processed for CD5, I can change the high pH retrieval from 20 minutes to 10 minutes very easily, whereas I can keep it at 20 minutes for our over-fixed tonsil positive control.  My only concern is the cost per slide, but I was told by  Vision BioSystems that they are competitive.

Richard

Richard W. Cartun, Ph.D.
Director, Immunopathology & Histology
Assistant Director, Anatomic Pathology
Hartford Hospital
80 Seymour Street
Hartford, CT  06102
(860) 545-1596
(860) 545-0174 Fax

>>> "Marian Powers"  04/12/07 9:48 AM >>>
Hello all:  Anyone out there using the Bond?  What are the advantages and disadvantages?  Any hidden costs, etc.?  Thanks in advance.

Marian
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