Joel,
one of the biggest assets I have found about DAB is that it does not bleed
around the reaction site.  one of the pathologists here insists on AEC,
while the other doctos want DAB.  When I QC the slides, I have noticed that
the same primary antibodies have a slightly different reaction in AEC and
DAB.  A couple of the pathologists have admitted that they have a difficult
time reading AEC slides.  DAB tends to have a more localized reaction.  For
example.  When staining for CD45 LCA, you can definatley see the membrane
staining when using DAB.  It is crisp and clean.  The same tissue stained
with AEC, the membrane looks thicker and is hard to define (that what I call
bleeding).  Try using both on the same tissue and have your pathologist
review them at the same time.  When I first started working here, AEC was
used exclusively.  Now, DAB is the choice chromogen.  Good luck.

Joe Nocito, B.S., HT(ASCP)QIHC
Histology Supervisor
Christus Santa Rosa Hospitals
San Antonio, Texas 


> -----Original Message-----
> From:	JBenoit@aol.com [SMTP:JBenoit@aol.com]
> Sent:	Tuesday, July 27, 1999 5:36 PM
> To:	Histonet@Pathology.swmed.edu
> Subject:	The Battle of The Chromogens!!!!!!
> 
> Hey Histonetters,
> I'm back again needing all of your expertise. My pathologists are diehard
> AEC 
> chromogen fans and I'm trying to get them to give in and switch to DAB. We
> 
> are in the process of purchasing the Ventana NexEs and would love to
> switch 
> over to DAB. So I need all the feedback I can get to support DAB over AEC.
> We 
> run the standard panels plus ER/PR and I'm working on Her2/Neu.
> So if you love DAB please e-mail and let me know WHY?
> Thanks in advance for all your help.
> 
> Joel Benoit
> Cooley-Dickinson Hospital
> Northampton,MA.