Louise,
Try Garvey modified Mayers. It works reallllly well!!

 GARVEY'S MODIFIED MAYER'S HAEMATOXYLIN
Authorised by:		Tony Henwood		

Principle:	

This solution is a progressive haematoxylin that uses
10% less alum. Chloral hydrate, because of its
toxicity, has been replaced with ethanol, a more
effective penetrator and bacteriostat. Mercury oxide
has been replaced with sodium iodate.

Fixation:      10% buffered formalin.

Microtomy:     paraffin sections at 5um.
Reagents:

Dissolve 45g ammonium or potassium alum in 900ml
distilled water with the aid of heat. Dissolve 2.5g
Haematoxylin (CI 75290) in 100ml absolute ethanol.
Combine above solutions and add 0.2g Sodium Iodate and
1g citric acid. Mix well. The solution is stable for
several months.
Procedure:
1.   Dewax and hydrate sections.
2.   Stain in modified Mayer's Haematoxylin 40secs.
3.   Wash in warm water 5min.
4.   If required, counterstain in eosin solution.
5.   Dehydrate, clear and mount.
Reference:	 
Garvie, W., (1991) J. Histotechn 14(3):164-165.



--- LOUISE YARROW  wrote: > I have
tried to order chloral hydrate to make mayers
> but have found out  it is a conrtrolled chemical and
> not available in Canada any longer. 
> Can anyone tell me how they make mayers without
> chloral hydrate, or is that possible?
> We have been using it in our cytology dept.
> Thanks for any suggestions
> Louise Yarrow
> CLS
> Foothills hospital
> Calgary, Alberta
>  

=====
Tony Henwood JP BAppSc GradDipSysAnaly CT(ASC)
Laboratory Manager
Histopathology Department
The Childrens Hospital at Westmead
Locked Bag 4001
WESTMEAD, 2145
AUSTRALIA

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