Sometimes the biopsies are left out by the clinician/nurse and are allowed
to dry before placing into fixative. I'd rule that out first. Good luck! j
Joyce Weems
Pathology Manager
Saint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta
404-851-7376
404-851-7831 - FAX


	-----Original Message-----
	From:	Cynthia Favara [SMTP:cfavara@niaid.nih.gov]
	Sent:	Tuesday, March 19, 2002 12:42 PM
	To:	'CrochiereSteve@aol.com'; histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
	Subject:	RE: Burned Tissue?

	Just a thought, but the fact that the outer cuts of the biopsy look
"burnt" suggest to me that the tissue is over dried. Possibly too long in
the dehydrating reagent you are using. Is this problem with biopsies only or
across varying tissue type and sizes?
	 
	Cynthia Favara
	-----Original Message-----
	From: CrochiereSteve@aol.com [mailto:CrochiereSteve@aol.com]
	Sent: Monday, March 18, 2002 6:04 PM
	To: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
	Subject: Burned Tissue?
	
	
	Hi, 
	I've been having a real problem this last week or so with tissue
coming off my Shandon Pathcentre looking "burned," according to my
pathologist. What could cause such an artifact? I thought maybe it was a
paraffin temp problem, but there's been no record of the processor going
outside temp limits. Thought it may be insufficient de-paraffinization
(still hoping it's that). It doesn't happen to everything, and the weirdest
part is that one level from a biopsy showed the artifact while deeper levels
did not. 
	
	Any help....please 
	
	steve