Mirkka,
I have tried them all, and on both the silane coated slides manufactured
by Erie Scientific as Superfrost Plus Charge slides or their Polysine
(poly l lysine) slides. We now use Vectors Immedge pens exclusively on
any glass slide surface, coated or uncoated.
In our hands, the DAKO pen, which may not be available in US now, peeled
off in sheets, and the Super PAP pen wasn't ideal either. These pens
resulted in a clear line of demarcation, but the Immedge pen has a hint of
gray, making is much easier to see during staining. There used to be a
super PAP pen with color, but the color leached under the coverslip over
the sections. I am not sure this is available in the USA anymore either.
The Immedge pen is also much cheaper, comes in a package of two. We are
very happy with these pens.
Hints on successful use: Vector said to vigorously shake ImmEdge pens
before using them. This redistributes the goo and solvent inside the
pen. I have heard the goo is teflon based, but cannot back up this fact
since ingredients generally are proprietary. We vortex ImmEdge pens as
hard as possible before drawing the lines. Vector made the agitation
suggestion when people began to experience problems with their pens, and it
works for us. I would assume shaking any vendors PAP type pen may improve
their hydrophobic barrier effectiveness too.
My biggest wish: Vendors and/or pen manufacturers, PLEASE make narrower
pen tips and not out of such HARD material. My DAKO pen poured out goo
like a fire hose resulting in goo flooded sections leading to very bad
language habits. I finally crushed and macerated tips with a pliers. I
have macerated the tips on other vendors pens too, and have recycled a
favorite tip from one empty pan into the new pen - for a soft tip providing
an even, minimal flow of goo when drawing the line!
Good luck on finding a suitable hydrophobic barrier pen.
At 07:08 AM 6/1/2007, you wrote:
>Does anyone have any experience with using the ImmEdge or DAKO pens on
>Menzel SuperFrost Plus adhesion slides? Vector doesn't really specify on
>which glass slides the pen can be used, but some such as the Super PAP pen
>and DAKO pen should be used only on albumin or polylysine coated slides
>(according to the manufacturer, anyhow). I know of one group that uses the
>DAKO pen succesfully on Superfrost Plus slides, but I'd like to have some
>second opinions before making the purchase. Your help and expertise will
>be greatly appreciated.
Gayle Callis
MT,HT,HTL(ASCP)
Research Histopathology Supervisor
Veterinary Molecular Biology
Montana State University - Bozeman
PO Box 173610
Bozeman MT 59717-3610
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