Allison Scott HT(ASCP), Histology Supervisor, LBJ Hospital, Houston, Texas asks:
>>Our [pathologist's assistant] used Higgins ink (india ink) on some skin >>specimens and set the ink with 10% acetic acid solution. After the specimens >>were processed, all of the ink was gone, washed off. We have regular alcohols >>and xylene on the processor, this should not have made the ink wash off. Any suggestions on why it washed off, how to prevent this from happening again.<< My guess is that you got the wrong kind of India ink - there are several varieties for special purposes, and I don't understand this issue very well. I've often bought my own Higgins india ink at art supply stores, always getting the plainest variety I could, and never had trouble with it - but I should learn the specifications better. I never fix ink with anything - if you blot the specimen good and dry, the india ink (or Davidson's ink) will adhere quite well. If you do prefer to use a fixative, use dilute acetic acid - acetone is a fire hazard, and we all know the dangers of the picric acid in Bouin's fixative. Bob Richmond Samurai Pathologist Knoxville TN _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
