Lynn,
       I have been using a microwave to dry slides for 6 years.  Works
great, and is very fast.  Our tissue holds to our slides very well.  On our
ER/PR antibodies we antigen retrieve using citrate buffer and boiling (in
the microwave) for 25 minutes.  Our fatty breast tissue never falls off!  We
use an off the shelf, 800 watt carousel Sharp microwave.  We use plastic
racks (of course) and place a paper towel under and over the racks.  We cook
from one slide to up to 3 racks at a time on high power for 2 minutes and
let them sit, in the microwave, an additional 2 minutes. Take them out and
let them cool.  If we are in a hurry, we will place the hot slides on the
counter for a few seconds to cool them.  Works very well for us.

Tammy Barnhart, BS,HTL(ASCP)
Anatomic Pathology Supervisor
St. Alexius Medical Center
Bismarck, ND
tbarnhart@primecare.org

-----Original Message-----
From: Lynn McKee [mailto:mckeela@ucmail.uc.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2001 10:40 AM
To: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
Subject: slide drying in microwave


Dear Histonetters,

    Do any of you dry your slides using a microwave. If so what is your
procedure? Thanks in advance.

Lynn McKee
University of Cincinnati