Like all other things 'histology', blade choice depends on so many different things! Tissue type, fixation, paraffin type, mircrotome and associated blade holder, humidity in the workroom, etc. I know there are people who will poo-poo this opinion--so try it for yourself! Contact your vendors and ask for samples of every blade you think you'll like. They'll send samples from 2 blades to a 10-blade mini pack. Then sit down and TRY them. You WILL have one blade work significantly better than the others--you may also want a second type for hard or decal tissues. If you're concerned about cost, also consider the extra time your techs need to produce a GOOD slide on an blade that isn't optimal for your lab. Tech time trumps blade cost every time. One 'cut thru' block could cost your patient a correct diagnosis and the lab a chunk to make it right. Most techs have a favorite, but most techs also don't care what blade they use as long as they don't have to struggle to produce good work. Nothing worse than facing a tiny pediatric kidney core knowing you have to produce 15+ slides on a crappy blade. My antiperspirant isn't up to that task!! Cheryl
Cheryl Kerry, HT(ASCP) Full Staff Inc. Staffing the AP Lab by helping one GREAT Tech at a time. 281.852.9457 Office 800.756.3309 Phone & Fax ad...@fullstaff.org Sign up for the FREE newsletter AP News--updates, tricks of the trade and current issues for Anatomic Pathology Clinical Labs. Send a 'subscribe' request to apn...@fullstaff.org. Please include your name and specialty in the body of the email. _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
