Hi everyone:
 
We are having problems when we process our tissue specimens in the VIP. Whenever we process 80+ blocks (our VIP can hold 150 blocks), anything that is not a small biopsy does not process well (such as uteri, breast tissue, etc) even with specimens being held overnight or longer in formalin for fixation. 
 
We use zinc formalin, ethyl alcohol, Histo-Solv (xylene substitute - which we have been using for a long time, so I don't think that is the problem) and ParaPlast Xtra.
 
Our times once machine starts processing:
Zinc formalin, total of 2 hours 
70% alcohol, 45 minutes
95% alcohol, total of 90 minutes 
100% alcohol, total of 2-1/2 hours
Histo-Solv, total of 2 hours
Paraplast, total of 2 hours, 15 minutes
 
Agitation is on and so is vacuum.
 
Any ideas or help will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
 
Barbara
kjnpeppa@yahoo.com
 

		
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