Yes, the literature indicates that Warthin Starry is indicated for
demonstration of cat scratch organisms.  I prefer the Modified Steiner
method because it has less tech-to-tech variability.

And, DI water should be tested regularly for microbes.  Usually a sample is
sent to microbiology for culture.  It's not a bad idea to make up your
solutions for the WS using sterile water, if it's available.

-Teri Johnson, HT(ASCP)
Supervisor, Histology
Physicians Reference Laboratory
Overland Park, KS

----- Original Message -----
From: Kimberly Carter <carter.343@osu.edu>
To: Richard Pitman <Richard.Pitman@wri-tr.wmids.nhs.uk>
Cc: <histonet@pathology.swmed.edu>
Sent: Monday, January 08, 2001 6:15 AM
Subject: Re: Water quality - ? test for bacteria in deionised water


> Richard,
>    I am not sure if Warthin Starry is used for Cat Scratch, but it is used
to detect spirochetes. That would explain the bacteria in the background.
>
> Kim Carter
> OSU Medical Center
> Comprehesive Cancer Center
> Columbus, Ohio
>
>
> Richard Pitman wrote:
>
> > Hi All,
> >
> > We had some problems with a Warthin Starry last week. (Is this an
appropriate stain for suspected Cat Scratch disease?) Finished slides were
covered witha background of bacteria. Usual places for these to get in are
either via a dirty section floating bath, or contaminated staining solutions
and/or buffer stocks.
> >
> > So, we set out to make up fresh solutions, change baths etc. Which lead
to any interesting debate. I had always 'assumed' that water from our
deionisation plant would be bug free. Water passes through a coarse filter
on the supply side, passes a UV lamp, then a reverse osmosis filter, finally
through an ion exchange column. Vendor claimed water  quality better than
double distilled. System should be sanitised with hypochlorite every so
often, not done this recently, was done on installation 12 months back.
> >
> > Other suggestion was that we obtain 'sterile' water from Micro. This has
been through process above, then autoclaved. Any bugs would still be there,
but dead. They'd still stain up, though ?
> >
> > Is there a quick test I can do to see if bugs are present in the holding
tank ? Suggestions range from sending sample to Micro to see if they can
grow anything, or evaporating some water onto a slide, then doing a Gram on
the deposit.
> >
> > Any thoughts please,
> >
> > Richard
>
>