Charnell:
Well, the long and short of it is that araldite
processing is one of those things that have not really
changed over the last 20 years or so.  I realize that
araldite is a very viscous resin that requires long
processing times, but if the technique works, why
change it?  The only thing I would say is that if your
timelines need to be shortened, you may want to switch
to one of the epon-replacement resins.  This may
necessitate reevaluating your staining protocols,
since the resins are not exactly identical.  My own
feeling is that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Roger Moretz, Ph.D.
Dept of Toxicology
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals

--- Charnell.E.Jones@questdiagnostics.com wrote:
> 
> 
> I have just recently started doing araldite
> processing for renal core biopsies
> at my lab. The techs here have been doing them for
> at least ten years, but the
> only reference book that we have is one copyrighted
> from 1978. All of our
> methods from processing to staining come from this
> book (Histologic Technique
> for Araldite Tissue Processing).The first tech who
> started doing this technique
> went to a training program in the mid-eighties and
> trained everyone else. With
> all the advances in histology, I know that there has
> probably been some type of
> modification in methodology. I was wondering if
> anyone who does araldite
> processing on a regular basis could pass on some
> more recent references or
> perhaps their staining procedures. We perform a
> Trichrome-Jones, PAS, and H&E on
> all our of our native renal core biopsies that we
> receive to be araldite
> processed. Thank you!
> 
> Sincerely,
> Charnell E. Jones, B.S., HTL(ASCP)
> CompuNet Clinical Laboratories
> Dayton, OH
> 
> 
> 


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