Dear Histonetters,
    How is anybody dealing with heavy deposits of Melanin pigment in (skin)
tissue that is to be stained for HMB-45 and/or S-100? We are using DAKO's
Envision+/DAB+ detection system, on the DAKO autostainer.  Will a Melanin
Bleach procedure  using Potassium Permanganate and Oxalic Acid adversely
affect subsequent immunostaining? I read something about using Azure-B as a
counterstain instead of Hematoxylin, which is supposed to stain the melanin
a green-blue thus differentiating it from the brown staining of the DAB
chromogen. Has anybody tried this?  Thanks for any help you can give me with
this problem.

    Mike Schreiber HT(ASCP)
    Three Rivers Pathology
    Roseville, Minnesota