Hi Lynn,
	There's a method for microwave Giemsa in 'The Microwave Cookbook
of Pathology' by Boon and Kok (1987) which apparently works on both
paraffin and glycolmethacrylate sections. I say 'apparently' ,  because
I haven't tried it :¬) As for heating methanol solutions, once you
dilute the Giemsa stock solution the percentage of methanol present is
very small so I don't imagine there would be a problem.  The method
essentially involves microwaving the Giemsa working solution ( 50ml) at
450W at 55degC for 15 mins followed by a 3 - 4s rinse in weak acetic;
96% alcohol for 6 - 7s , and dehydrate in isopropanol. I imagine you
could modify these times to suit. The reference is Boon et al, Stain
Technology 62: 257 - 264.
If you need a copy of the method (from the 'cookbook') in full, I could
fax it to you.
	Hope this helps,
		Alex Brown
		Crosshouse Hospital
		Kilmarnock, Scotland.

 ----------
From: Lynn Gardner
To: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
Subject: Giemsa
Date: 10 November 1998 15:17

Dear Histonetters:

Does anyone out in histoland know of a microwave procedure for the
Giemsa
Stain? If not, does anyone know the dangers of heating methanol
solutions?

Thanks,
Lynn Gardner, HT(ASCP)