Save time & $. Use Mrs. Stewerts liquid bluing. I've been using it for
years. Bruce Gapinski HT(ASCP)

		-----Original Message-----
		From:	Aidan Schurr [mailto:Aidan.Schurr@hvh.co.nz]
		Sent:	Thursday, November 29, 2001 11:16 AM
		To:	histonet@pathology.swmed.edu;
office@rshhis.demon.co.uk
		Subject:	Re: Alcian blue for marking margins

		Jim,

		Went through this same dilemma about a year ago.  Have you
tried different "indian" inks?  I quickly discovered that all so called
indian inks are definitely not created equal...  I had to trial about a
dozen or so before finding a suitable one.  The ink currently used is
(unfortunately for you, fortunately for us) manufactured here in New
Zealand, and goes onto wet or dry, fixed or fresh tissue with little mess.
Once on it stays there.  Really good microscopic marking - obvious layer, no
'weak' spots, no 'bacteria-like' granules at high power.  Best of all it
costs about $30NZ for a litre (that's about 10 pounds, or $15US [per *liter*
for you guys!!]).  We also have a couple of other inks designed for
technical drawing pens (as an architect would use) made by "Rotring" (should
be available virtually anywhere).  We use their Blue and Green, which we
find have similar characteristics to the black, but are more expensive.

		Best of luck
		Aidan

		__

		aidan schurr  b.m.l.sc
		section head, histology
		hutt valley district health board
		lower hutt
		new zealand

		aidan.schurr@hvh.co.nz
		++64 4 570 9173

		>>> RSH Histology  30/11/2001 >>>
		With difficulties in obtaining adequate quality (and
affordable) Alcian blue
		8GX in the UK, a problem I suspect encountered elsewhere, I
would be
		interested to hear of alternative dyes/methods in use.
Indian ink has not
		proved to be
		"consultant friendly" and commercial "margin kits" have not
proved
		processing and staining "fast" here. Any suggestions -
useful alternative
		dyes etc gratefully
		recieved!
		Good quality Alcian blue 8GX is our gold standard (clean in
use, easy to
		paint/dip, perfect for microscopy with H&E) but it's
disappearing fast!

		Jim Almond
		Head BMS
		Royal Shrewsbury Hospital
		UK