-----Original Message-----
From: HistoNet Server [mailto:histonet@pathology.swmed.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2000 9:39 PM
To: jenmurf@trxinc.com
Subject: Re: green xylene


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es


-------------------- Original Message Follows --------------------
Our xylene has been turning green recently....I have an idea as to what it
is...however my thoughts do not matter at this point......I will give you
the situation  and ask for your advise.
my observations
1. The formalin is pretty clear[we do not handle many grossly bloody spec.]
2.The following alcohols are clear...
3.The xylene has a slight green tinge to it...occasionally a deeper
green..that looks like the counterstain of the gms.
4Occasionally the parrafin will take on the light green color also .
           A coworker thinks this is a bilirubin effect...[fouts]that the
excess blood is being carried over to the xylene causing the xylene to turn
green.....she also states she thinks there is a backflow in our
processor..noting she thought the last 2 95% alcohols before the xylene were
clowdy when she dumped them....
I checked the alcohols today....they ran clear
2.The xylene was starting to look like it might have a tinge of green
3.I documented how many spec.I cut today that had been dyed in meth
blue..noting that the tissue when inked in this, turns light green to blue
green on completion of processing.
4.the formalin did not have that dirty rust color ..you know the one that is
brown and green and looks like swamp water!
All the rest of the reagents were clean...
               I think...when the tissue goes thru the xylene..it pulls out
excess dye do to the vacume...[everyone knows you can take a swab of gauze
dip it in xylene and it will remove every so called permanent ink ever made
by man!]...I think that is where the color is coming from....]   My coworker
says no....It is blood she knows this...She has told me she is smarter than
the average bear...she went to a very elite school...almost ivy league...and
she knows these things.....
So me..not as smart as the average bear...asks you...my fellow histotechs[ps
shes not certified]....If it is the bilirubin effect wouldnt it show up at
the begining of processing...shouldnt the formalins be swamp water [rusty
green]...long before the xylene?If it is blood why are all the reagent
clear?....Am I missing somthing?  am usually open minded about these things
but lately i have been confronted with so much im not sure!!!!!!!!!!!1Send
your response to jenmurf@sbtek.net   or
jenmurf@trxinc.com...................jenmurf@trxinc.com will no longer be
available in two days....Please  Please
Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111