My experience with the mesh cassettes was less than satisfactory.  Often
times the tissue did not process well.  It seemed as though air/other
reagents was occassionally trapped/retained within the cassette.  I had
some bisected punch biopsies of skin where one half cut and stained
great and the other half(in the same cassette) cut like a pencil eraser.
 The time saved at the gross table and at the embedding center did not
warrent the damage to the tissue,potential patient misdiagnosis and the
additional time to reprocess the tissue the next day.  Also the 
pathologists weren't thrilled looking at tissue rims.

Tracy Smith
Anatomic Pathology Scientist
Children's Hospital and Clinics
Phone(651)220-6561
Fax(651)220-7178
Tracy.Smith@Children'sHC.org

>>> Paula Wilder  02/28/03 07:36AM >>>
Hi everyone!

We are looking into alternative ways for the Pathology assistants to
submit 
prostate biopsies.  Currently they are using the blue sponges. We have
tried 
lens paper.  That works well for us in Histology, but not for the PAs. 
So - 
I have been thinking about trying the new mesh cassetes.  Does anyone 
currently use them or do you have another suggestion that we might use.
 Any 
help would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks so much!
Paula Wilder
St. Joseph Medical Center
Towson, MD. 21204





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