We have the Leica which we purchased specifically because our supervising
pathologist wanted glass coverslips.  I was told by the Leica sales rep.
himself that nothing beat the Sakura tape coverslipper for ease of
operation.  That said, there are many stories about the tape itself.  You
will hear you cannot get good quality photographs from a taped slide while
others will say it makes no difference.  You will hear from those that have
had no problems with the tape while others will say it has cracked, yellowed
and/or popped off.  I personally have heard that the tape is very expensive.

Long story short, it really depends on who you ask and what your needs are.
Maybe you could demo both and could compare everything except how they hold
up over time.

Jeanine Bartlett, HT(ASCP)
Centers for Disease Control
Infectious Disease Pathology Activity
Atlanta, GA


-----Original Message-----
From: Satterfield, Marirose
[mailto:marirose.satterfield@MercyMemorial.org]
Sent: Wednesday, December 11, 2002 10:02 AM
To: 'histonet@pathology.swmed.edu'
Subject: Sakura vs. Leica coverslippers


I am a first time user of the Histonet. I have been told it is very useful
for information.
I have been looking into purchasing a automated coverslip. We have had
several demos in-house. We had found for ease of operation the Sakura was
most trouble free. Although when the Leica Reps came in they told us stories
of slides coverslipped with the tape as popping off and ruining the tissue.
They also told us that there was a large company that sued Sakura for having
to go back and recover all their slides. So I am interested in hearing all
sides of the story from people who have used either coverslipper.
Thanks in advance
Mari Satterfield
Mercy Memorial Hospital
Monroe Mi