Re: Steamers for IHC HIER
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From: | "J. A. Kiernan" <jkiernan@julian.uwo.ca> (by way of histonet) |
To: | histonet <histonet@magicnet.net> |
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Content-Type: | text/plain; charset="us-ascii" |
On Tue, 27 Oct 1998, Sarah A. Jones wrote:
> ... The rep
> called us yesterday and told us that the CAP had just issued a new
> regulation stating that steamers could no longer be used for heat
> induced epitope retreival (HIER).
> .... getting the information
> for us, as well as the substitute method; but I have yet to see any
> documentation.
Some salesman, overly greedy for his commission, is trying to
frighten you into buying something expensive. If he claims to
be from a reputable company, call their free 800 number and
ask to speak to someone in authority, or send a snail mail
letter to the Managing Director, and a copy to somebody senior
in your own institution. Do not be intimidated. Heat is heat
and in the presence of water it will "retrieve epitopes"
however it is applied, subject to certain antigen-dependent
idiosyncrasies of pH etc.
If something as simple as a rice steamer or pressure cooker
is adequate for the work you are doing, go on using it.
When you are asked to do things that need more expensive
equipment, ask your boss if it's really needed, and then
invite several suppliers to give quotations. Tell them all
that they are competing with their rivals. If you can get the
same thing from a non-laboratory source it may well be much
cheaper. Remember all those $1000 lavatory seats sold to
the U.S. army?
John A. Kiernan,
Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology,
The University of Western Ontario,
LONDON, Canada N6A 5C1
E-mail: kiernan@uwo.ca
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