Dear All,

Vinnie brings up a good point.  Many years ago a publication on saprophytic
AFB growing in plastic carboys used for distilled or deionized water
storage discussed this problem.    
They controlled or eliminated the AFB by frequent washing of carboy,
probably after some Clorox treatment.  If you do not routinely wash out
your carboys, you may be experiencing this problem.  Growing INSIDE the
water deionizer would be a horror.  I would think anyone with this problem
and doing molecular biology methods might have to look at a better system
for pure water.  

I have seen green slime growing in huge carboys/plastic tanks storing
reverse osmosis water which was then further purified. Kitchen help was
somewhat insulted when it was pointed out the water was slim and as more
molecular biology was done in dept, a fancy MilQ water system was
installed.  If there is ever a water problem now, the MB's scream.  Carboys
still get a good wash before refilling. 


  At 04:49 PM 1/3/02 -0500, you wrote:
>ALL of the suggestions this far are good ones. I have even had acid fast
bacilli growing in a water deionizer. Acid fast bacteria are not uncommon
to tap water. slides must be stained individually, flooding them in a
horizontal position. Do NOT stain the
>good luck. this problem can often be perplexing to resolve.
>
>
>Vinnie Della Speranza

Gayle Callis
MT,HT,HTL(ASCP)
Histopathology Supervisor
Veterinary Molecular Biology - Marsh Lab
Montana State University - Bozeman
19th and Lincoln St
Bozeman MT 59717-3610

406 994-6367
406 994-4303 (FAX)