Hi, Aidan,

If your commercial blue marking ink is too thin, how about leaving the cap 
off for several days until it starts thickening due to evaporation?  We use 
Bradley inks, and got frustrated with the inks getting TOO thick, because we 
used to keep the lids off during gross for quick dipping.  Another idea 
would be to use another ink color instead.  Blue and black inks are always 
thinner.  Orange and yellow inks are the thickest.


>From: a i d a n   s c h u r r <Aidan.Schurr@hvh.co.nz>
>To: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
>Subject: Alcian Blue for Tissue Marking
>Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2000 11:24:09 +1300
>
>Hi all,
>
>We use a 5% solution of Alcian Blue for tissue marking (margins
>mostly).  We now have a new pathologist who says that this
>solution is not "thick" enough.  Since 5g/100mL is about the
>maximum solubility for A. blue, I am at a bit of a loss.  Any
>suggestions for this, or for alternatives would be appreciated.  ps
>she doesn't like using indian ink either!
>
>Cheers,
>Aidan
>
>___________________________________________________
>shin: device for finding furniture in the dark...
>___________________________________________________
>a i d a n   c   s c h u r r
>      mlso,  histology department
>       hutt valley health
>        lower hutt, new zealand
>
>      ph.  ++64 4 5709173
>      fax  ++64 4 5709214
>___________________________________________________
>
>

________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com