If you presoak your sponges in formalin your problem should be solved!

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	ryandes@esatclear.ie [SMTP:ryandes@esatclear.ie]
> Sent:	Wednesday, August 01, 2001 5:17 PM
> To:	Terry.Marshall@rgh-tr.trent.nhs.uk; DTMan@kingmower.com.au;
> histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
> Subject:	RE: Tissue processing - small biopsies
> 
> Dear Terry,
>          With the Pathologists I work with (and it goes for most labs) if 
> the pathologists have a problem we have a problem, troubleshoot and sort
> it 
> out as a team. You will get sponge artifact if the tissue is fresh and it 
> gets squashed into the holes in the sponge. Not a problem if the tissue is
> 
> fixed first.
> Annette Ryan
> Medical Lab Technician
> Histology Department
> Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital
> Drogheda
> Co Louth
> Ireland
> 
> 
> 
> At 03:48 PM 8/1/01 +0100, Terry.Marshall@rgh-tr.trent.nhs.uk wrote:
> >Let's get this straight David. You get no problems with foam artefact you
> 
> >say.
> >Do the pathologists? (You have not denied getting it, just having
> problems 
> >with it).
> >
> >Terry L Marshall
> >Histopathologist
> >Rotherham General Hospital, Yorkshire
> >
> >I'm with Amos, agar/ gel is a pain. We use black foam biopsy pads and
> >train staff to embed properly. We have no problems with so called
> >crushing or foam artifact. David.
> >
> >David Taylor
> >Laboratory