In my case, it's someone's beloved pet or farm animal.  However, I think it
depends upon the volume of tissues processed that determines the frequency
solutions are changed.  I assume ya'll are doing >100 blocks/day.  I average
approx. 30 slides/day with a range between 0 (like today... no tissues processed
last nite) to a full basket (70ish-- like I had on Monday).  I change my
solutions once a month.  All staining solutions are changed entirely at the same
time.  On a weekly basis, I remove the post-eosin alcohols and the first abs
ETOH in the hydration series on the stainer and add fresh hematoxylin and eosin
just before use.   I have never had any problems with improperly processed
tissues or staining.   I agree with the attitudes expressed in this thread...
little things make all the difference in the quality of our work.   It's not
such a hard thing to do to change solutions, but it is soooo important!

Connie McManus

"Morrison, Michelle" wrote:

> Hi all.  I would have to agree with you Dave, on all aspects you mentioned.
> The end product (optimally processed and stained slides)is what the
> pathologist needs to render an accurate dx.  I work in a small lab and here
> quality is as important as quantity, if not more so.  I couldn't imagine
> letting the reagents on the V.I.P. go beyond a weeks run.  Somewhere in all
> those tissue filled casettes is someone's loved one, maybe yours.
>
> Michelle.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: David Taylor Manager [mailto:DTMan@KINGMOWER.COM.AU]
> Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2001 9:33 PM
> To: Histonet (E-mail)
> Subject: Xylene usage
>
> Dear fellow microtomist's,
>
> If I, a member of my family, close friend, enemy or other was having a
> specimen processed on a tissue processor, I would expect fresh reagents. Do
> use an enclosed processor if the money is there, do rotate like reagent from
> from old to new, do buy a TP that makes this easy, (VIP, or my personel
> choice, Leica TP1050.)
>
> We at K&M, and I'm sure others, can tell on opening a retort lid, if the wax
> should have been changed yesterday, or on embedding if the fixation was not
> optimal.
>
> In pathology, we receive money from patient's for a service provided.
>
> Provide a good service, change reagents, it does make a difference to the
> end product.
>
> David.
>
> David Taylor
> Laboratory Manager
> Drs King & Mower
> Adelaide, Australia

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