I have for years been looking for someone to write an ASCP Tech Sample
Exercise on this subject of  "WHICH WAX".  Any takers, now that the subject
has surfaced again.
Patsy Ruegg

		-----Original Message-----
		From:	Jim Almond [mailto:jaa@rshhis.demon.co.uk]
		Sent:	Thursday, June 10, 1999 3:43 AM
		To:	histonet@Pathology.swmed.edu
		Subject:	WHICH wax feedback

		Just a quick note to thank those who responded to my posting
regarding
		paraffin waxes in routine use.
		There were eleven responses covering  a wide variety of
suppliers/brands
		(out of the eleven - an amazing seven brands were quoted). I
guess firm
		conclusions could not be made from such a small sample but
the clear
		message offered in comments etc. was that waxes are much the
same
		irrespective of the supplier! Provided their melting point
properties were
		accurate and they were "clean" there were no poor performers
identified.
		It was interesting to note the a couple of labs use separate
waxes for
		infiltration (at a lower temperature) and embedding  (harder
grade).  
		Thanks once again to all those who replied, as for me  - I
won't be
		changing but at least I'm reassured there isn't a clear
(head and shoulders
		above the rest) market leader out there I was blissfully
unaware of.

		Jim


		Royal Shrewsbury Hospitals NHS Trust
		Histology Dept
		Tel: +44 (0) 1743 261168  Fax: +44 (0) 1743 355963
		Email: hist@rshhis.demon.co.uk