I have demoed the Nexus and the biogenex and will soon demo the cytologics
machine.
I have found that the kits are very expensive and the nexus can only do 20
slides at a time plus they didn't have kits for all the stains that we
perform here, so therefore it wouldn't free up a tech.
I am at a lose at how people in histoland are justifying purchasing a 50
thousand dollar machine in place of a 30 thousand dollar tech.
automation would be a great debate topic.

Felton L. Nails 
Anatomical Pathology Manager
Texas Children's Hosp.
713-770-1248

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Mary Stevens [SMTP:mstevens@genetics.com]
> Sent:	Wednesday, March 15, 2000 2:35 PM
> To:	TMcNemar@lmhealth.org; smeloan@mail.mcg.edu;
> histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
> Subject:	Re: Automation of special stains
> 
> We're currently demo-ing (is that a word? it is now....) auto stainers for
> special stain purposes.  We typically perform the Goldner's trichrome, and
> VonKossa.  And will also incorporate any H&E's and the Saf O eventually.
> We typically run large batches of Sp. stains, so my comments are for batch
> stainers only.
> 
> so far we've tested the Leica, we liked it.  Also have the Shandon and
> Sakura  to evaluate. In my opinion, they will all perform what we need
> them to do - I already checked them out at NSH.  they are easy to program
> and run, will do large numbers of slides and at least 2 different special
> stains will fit the number of baskets each has.  We could probably run 3
> sp stains if needed.  Each runs multiple stains and baskets at the same
> time. 
> 
> Good luck.
> Mary 
> 
> 
> 
> >>> Susan Meloan <smeloan@mail.mcg.edu> - 3/15/2000 10:24 AM >>>
> Last summer we had a demo machine- Ventana Nexus.  I was very skepital
> when I agreed to demo it, but was very surprised at the consistent results
> and ease of use.  I hated to lose the machine when it came time to give it
> up.   The hospital did not budget for the machine, but all in all it was a
> very good asset  while in the lab, and would certainly have automated many
> routine stains, allowing more work per technician.
> 
> 
> 
> Susan Meloan
> Chief Histotechnologist
> Department of Pathology
> Medical College of Georgia
> Augusta, Ga 30912
> (706) 721-3630
> e-mail: smeloan@mail.mcg.edu
> 
> 
> 
> >>> "Tom T. McNemar" <TMcNemar@lmhealth.org> 03/15 7:36 AM >>>
> Hello everyone!  Does anybody have any experience with using automation to
> perform stains like Trichrome, Alcian-Blue Pas, Grocott's Methenamine
> Silver, etc.?  I would appreciate any input you may have.
> 
> Tom
> Licking Memorial Hospital
> Newark, Ohio
> 
> 
> 
>