RE: xylene substitutes revisited
Well, I worked for many years in a lab that
used Histo-clear (citrus-based) exclusively and we had no problems with
anything, including immunos. So I can't help you in "heading them off at the
pass."
On the other hand, I can't see using xylene
as a bad thing as long as proper safety precautions are taken. One good one is
to use an automated coverslipper so that xylene exposure to skin is greatly
limited. Since the critical exposure levels to xylene vapors are quite high,
that is not usually a problem. Is there some reason xylene is being phased
out?
Of course finding a xylene substitute that
is acceptable to everyone in the lab is very tough. It seems there is a problem
with all of them in some way, either some can't stand the odor of one or
another, or there are sensitivity issues that rival xylene. Good
luck!
Tim Morken
Atlanta
Good morning everyone. Our safety committee is all set to switch us to a
xylene substitute. In order to head them off at the pass, I'd like any info
you kind people can provide concerning the impact xylene sub's would have on
IPX as well as on routine tissue preparation; processing, staining, special
stains, well you know, the whole nine yards!
Thanks so much for taking the time to read this email....
Gratefully,
Noreen
Noreen Gilman, B.S., H.T.(ASCP) CLS
Histopathology
Supervisor
Broward General Medical Center
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
33316
954.355.5592 Phone
954.355.4139 Fax
954-387-0213
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