Hi,
    If the coverslip is coming off then something is wrong with the last xylene
the slide was in. They should not peel off unless they are in the presence of
acetone, xylene or some such chemical. There was probably some alcohol in the
xylene.
    I do agree that they (tape coverslips) do cover uneven though. There is
always some warping of the cover slip (tape), which you needn't worry about with
glass. The main difference is presentation. If the goal is to get as many slides
covered as possible and ready for the doctor to look at then tape is the way to
go, it is just faster. If you are going to show off the slide to many people,
(for example on a HT practical or a conference presentation) then you'll want a
glass coverslip. Just remove the tape and recover it using glass.
Amos Brooks

"Louise Taylor (by way of Histonet)" wrote:

> Hmmm,
> yes, there are plus factors regarding tape coverslippers BUT.... we have
> found that after a while the tape peels off, taking with it the section.
> This is especially serious for teaching and seminar cases  which are used
> year after year and represent rare and unusual material - so its glass still
> for all that.  I have also found that there a small irregularities in the
> tape which also make it difficult when looking at a section for fine details
> such as ISH signals. One has to keep focussing up and down to correct as one
> moves along.
>
> But generally I agree that there is substantial time saving involved.
>
> best regards
> Louise Taylor
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: a i d a n s c h u r r [mailto:Aidan.Schurr@hvh.co.nz]
> Sent: 11 May 2000 01:48
> To: Scott Taft; histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
> Subject: Re: Coverglass thickness
>
> >
> > PS- If you use tape, are you considering switching
> > back to glass?
> >
> > Scott Taft HT(ASCP)
> > Tucson, AZ
> >
> Scott - we use tape, and will *never* go back to glass!  The sheer
> convenience of the tape system hugely outweighs any loss of
> optical clarity (which is negligible if your microscope is adjusted
> correctly).  No more 'blocks' of slides stuck together in the file, no
> more endless hours fiddling with coverslips and DPX, no more
> racks of slides drying in ovens, no more cleaning DPX off 40x
> objectives when a pathologist goes too close to the edge of a wet
> slide!   oh joy, oh rapture!! (**big grin**)
>
> Aidan
> ps do you get the feeling I rather like this system!?
> ___________________________________________________
> shin: device for finding furniture in the dark...
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> a i d a n   c   s c h u r r
>      mlso,  histology department
>       hutt valley health
>        lower hutt, new zealand
>
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