Interesting!  We have quite the opposite situation here in Texas.  I have yet to meet my DAKO rep, even though I have one immunostainer and continue to use some of their primaries.  My Ventana rep is always in contact with me and comes by at least once a month to check up on us.  We are also able to run any reagent we want on the Benchmarks, so I don't know where you get the idea about being locked up into their reagents.  Open your mind and explore the possibilities.  I did and I think I'm better off for it.  Like you I used to put Ventana down and praise DAKO, not anymore.  DAKO fell asleep a couple of years back and the guys from Tucson knew what to do and how to do it well.  (They don't pay me either).
 
Good luck,
Juan C. Gutierrez, HT(ASCP)

	-----Original Message----- 
	From: Joanne Mauger [mailto:MAUGER@email.chop.edu] 
	Sent: Wed 1/21/2004 7:12 AM 
	To: Mplhisto@aol.com; wayneholland1959@msn.com; histonet@pathology.swmed.edu 
	Cc: 
	Subject: RE: [Histonet] Automatic Immuno Stainers
	
	

	No way to Ventana. They are not customer oriented at all. They do not provide good support, and keep you locked in to their reagent use.
	Dako is a very supportive company,and their autostainer is totally open,so you can use their reagents,or any other you may choose. They have a special stainer -Artisan- which is very easy to use with great results. I have been using Dako's autostainer for immuno for ten years,and have always been happy with results,service, and support.(They don"t pay me!!)
	Jo M.
	
	>>> "Wayne Holland"  01/21/04 07:01AM >>>
	I also am looking, however after an exhaustive search and comparisons. My
	choice is Ventana.
	
	
	>From: Mplhisto@aol.com
	>To: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu (histonet)
	>Subject: [Histonet] Automatic Immuno Stainers
	>Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2004 21:41:38 EST
	>
	>   Our lab will be looking for an automatic Special/ Immuno stainer this
	>year.
	>I was curious to see which stainers you would recommend. We do a large
	>volume
	>of Immunos and specials and we are currently using the Cytologix. Any
	>feedback positive or negative would be greatly appreciated.
	>
	>Thanks,
	>Meredith Hale HT ( ASCP)
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	>Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
	>http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
	
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