We in our lab use regular household white vinegar to help the ink stay on the tissue during processing, cheap and safe.
Loralee McMahon, HTL (ASCP) Immunohistochemistry Supervisor Strong Memorial Hospital Department of Surgical Pathology (585) 275-7210 ________________________________________ From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Robert Richmond [rsrichm...@gmail.com] Sent: Friday, December 18, 2009 2:59 PM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Re: Silver Nitrate instead of inking?? I've worked in about 60 pathology operations since 1964. I have NEVER seen silver nitrate used for tissue marking, though I've heard of it. I think the point about the silver fouling processors is well taken. In addition, silver has the nasty habit of forming explosive complexes - I don't want to think about it reacting with Bouin's fixative to form silver picrate. There are basically three options. India ink - $4 a bottle from your local crafts store. Special marking inks, of which the Davidson marking inks are perhaps the most widely used, and in my opinion the best (I have no commercial connection with Mrs. Stewart, much less with Martha Stewart). The third option is tattoo inks - cheap, available in an unlimited variety of colors, and in my limited experience with them they get the job done. Bob Richmond Samurai Pathologist Knoxville TN _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet