Aidan,

Some time these strange patches can be due to not complete deparaffinization.
Change your xylenes more frequently and/or dry in the oven longer.

Cathy Locallo
Technical Assistance Center
Leica Microsystems




Aidan Schurr  on 09/04/2001 04:08:18 PM

To:   histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
cc:

Subject:  unusual artefact


hi all,

I have recently struck a strange staining artefact where the tissue has patches
where the haematoxylin doesn't seem to have been taken up.  The size seems to
vary from a dozen or so cells across to 10 or more times that size.  The eosin
staining appears to be normal in these areas.  Nothing should have changed in
our staining protocol, but I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions.

My thought so far are:  hot plates too hot, contaminated xylene, 95 and 100%
alcohols transposed, dud batch of haematoxylin (long shot).

Can anyone help?

Cheers,
Aidan


__

aidan schurr  b.m.l.sc
section head, histology
hutt valley district health board
lower hutt
new zealand

aidan.schurr@hvh.co.nz
++64 4 570 9173



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