Hi Christa,
	We routinely process (to paraffin) marrow aspirates and bone marrow
trephines. It's only the trephines we decalcify.
What you use for this will depend on the scope of your project .  In our
experience some of the proprietary decalcifying solutions are (in general) a
bit harsh if you are intending carrying out immunocytochemistry on the
tissue.  For this reason we normally use formal citrate - overnight at room
temperature - for bone cores.  If you just want to use routine staining
techniques on the tissue then the 'off the shelf' solutions are fine.  We
normally give the cores around 4 hours ( at room temp) in this type of
solution.
	We haven't tried any of the decalcifying solutions specially
recommended for immuno, but I'm sure someone 'out there' will advise you on
these.
	Hope this helps,
		Alex Brown
		Crosshouse Hospital
		Kilmarnock, Scotland.

 ----------
From: Christa Hladik
To: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
Subject: Decal Solutions
Date: Monday, February 28, 2000 3:45PM

Hello,
Our lab has been asked to do a project which includes decal of bone marrow
biopsies.
It has been years since I have worked in routine, I really could use some
updating on decal solutions that are being used today and approximate times
in solutions.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Christa Hladik, HT(ASCP) QIHC
Technical Director, Pathology Immunohistochemistry Laboratory
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
6000 Harry Hines Blvd.
Lab NB7.214
Dallas, Texas  75235-9072
(214) 648-1177; Fax (214) 648-1179
e-mail:  christa.hladik@email.swmed.edu