Hi Rob,
 
Are you using the printer ribbon sold by Surgi-Path specifically for the VCP?  I have tried cheaper generic ribbons and have had problems with numbers washing off.  The cassettes should be ready to go straight into formalin after printing.  Also, avoid touching the print while molten paraffin is on the cassette, the ink will smear or even wipe completely off the cassette.
 
Fred

	-----Original Message-----
From: "LUCAS Robert (RF4) BHR Hospitals"  
Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2003 8:22 AM
To: "'Histonet'" 
Subject: Cassette Printer Problem



	I wondered if anyone else has encountered this problem and has any ideas? 

	 We have a Surgipath VCP cassette printer in our cut up. This morning when 
we took our cassettes out of the processor the numbers had come off  two of 
the cassettes that were next to each other (In fact they were so feint as to 
be completely illegible). The day before when the cassettes were loaded they 
were checked to insure the cassettes were labelled and no problem was seen 
( I saw them myself). Fortunately we were able to identify which cases the 
casettes belonged to but we are worried that if this happens again this may 
not be possible. The cassettes were printed in advance because with this 
kind of printer the ink takes a little time to dry. In fact some cassettes 
were printed out during the cut up and the numbers were clear the following 
day. The printer is set to two passes. We routinely process overnight 
through formalin, 70% IMS, 90% IMS, IMS, xylene and paraffin wax. 

	So for the time being we have changed the tape and are writing the number in 
pencil on the side till we feel confident that the printer is reliable. (I'm 
going to take some convincing) 

	Rob Lucas FIBMS DipCompOpen 
Cheif BMS 
Histology 
King George Hospital 
Goodmayes 
Essex