We are having much the same problem.  The control is beautiful but virtually
no iron staining in the bx, clot, or smear.  Pathologists find it hard to
believe that all bone marrows are negative.  I tend to agree.  I have worked
on this different reagents, controls, everthing I can think of.  Livers are
also positive.  Only bone marrow are consitently negative.  Sure would
appreciate any thoughts......

Thanks.

Tom Mc Nemar, HT(ASCP)
Histo Supervisor
Licking Memorial Hospital 

-----Original Message-----
From: Lee & Peggy Wenk [mailto:lpwenk@mail.netquest.com]
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2001 8:47 PM
To: eileen dusek; histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
Subject: Re: Iron on BM


Acids used in decalcification remove iron. So a patient may show
iron positivity on their clot, but no iron staining on the biopsy,
particularly
if the amount of iron is low.

If there is a fairly high iron store in the clot, then the decalcified
biopsy will continue to show positivity, but to a lesser extent.

If the bone marrow is left in the decalcifying solution too long, then
more iron will be lost, even to the extent that a strongly positive
clot may have a negative biopsy.

So check the amount of time they are decalcifying. If ALL cases
are negative for iron in the biopsy core, then I would guess they
are being over-decalcified. If all cores are simply less intense than
the clot, then this is considered "acceptable", knowing that acids
leech out iron.

Peggy A. Wenk, BS, HTL(ASCP)SLS
William Beaumont Hospital
Royal Oak, MI 48073

----- Original Message -----
From: "eileen dusek" 
To: 
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2001 10:11 AM
Subject: Iron on BM


> Hi Everyone,
> Our Pathologists beleive our Iron stain is not working on  BM's.
> We use the routine procedure for iron, control is a liver and will be
> changing to a BM clot once we can get the stain to work.  Does anyone have
> suggestions or another procedure fro Iron on BM
> Thanks for your help
>
> Eileen
> Central DuPage Hospital
>
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