Dear Histonetters

    Occasionally we run into the problem of blotchy eosin in our H&E stain 
line.  Microscopically, it appears after staining, the eosin doesn't stain 
blotches in all our tissue.  This is not recurrent in every rack of slides 
though.  Our staining setup is:

Hematoxylin  5 minutes
rinse  about 10 dips in running water
Acid Alcohol 2 quick dips
rinse about 10 dips
Scotts Tap water 10 - 20 dips
rinse 10-20 dips
100% alcohol 10 dips
eosin 1 minute
4 changes of 100% alcohol
4 changes xylene

     Should we change to Ammonia water or Lithium Carbonate water instead of 
Scotts or is there another reason blotchy eosin occurs in this setup?  Any 
and all suggestions would be appeciated.  If you need more info let me know.

Jim