Thanks for all the info everyone. The tattoo ink sounds intriguing. We don't seem to have a problem getting full sections on any other derm specimens so I think it is specimen specific or technique specific meaning that the epithelial layer of these samples vary in thickness so I will keep you all posted as to the outcome as I know you are all waiting with anticipation.... Thanks again Christie
> Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2012 13:49:23 -0400 > From: rsrichm...@gmail.com > To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu > Subject: [Histonet] Re: Inking Skin > > Christie Gowan at UAB Hospital. Birmingham, Alabama asks: > > >>My derm pathologist has requested that we ink the epithelium on MOHs derm > >>cases (new pathologist). We process many derm specimens a day but it seems > >>we are having trouble getting full epithelium on our cases that come over > >>from the MOHs clinic. I am not sure that inking the skin will help with the > >>problem but let's just say that if we do decide to ink the surface of these > >>specimens, does anyone know of an ink that will actually stick to skin? > > Your new pathologist should be able to specify what he wants. About > time they started teaching pathology residents where slides come from. > > Mohs is somebody's name, not an acronym. Specifically Frederic Mohs, > an American surgeon (1910-2002): > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederic_E._Mohs > > You need a particulate ink that will stick to the specimen, withstand > frozen section or paraffin processing, and be visible on the slide. > > Particulate marking inks for surgical pathology are made by a variety > of manufacturers. I prefer the Davidson marking inks, but there are > several other brands. They come in at least seven colors. A wooden > case that keeps the tall narrow bottles from tipping over is usually > included. > > Tattoo inks are cheap and come in an almost unlimited variety of > colors, and in the one lab I've used them in work extremely well. The > downside is you have to read some pretty appalling catalogs if you > don't like tattoos and piercings (gimme a break, I'm 73 years old.) > > You can get ordinary India ink (which by definition is black) very > easily. I didn't know that craft stores like Hobby Lobby offer a > variety of colored particulate inks - I'd want to know exactly what to > buy, to make sure I got a suitable colored ink that would show up on > the slide. > > All of these inks have a good shelf life if you keep them tightly > capped except when you're actually using them. If they become > excessively viscous or solidify, they need to be thrown out. > > The specimen must be blotted thoroughly dry before inking, and the ink > blotted off afterwards. If you do this you won't need to use anything > to "set" the ink. I never use these fixatives. If you do want to use > such a fixing solution, 2 or 3% acetic acid (diluted from glacial > acetic acid) or half strength ordinary grocery store white vinegar is > supposed to work as well as anything. It's unnecessary to use Bouin's > fixative or acetone, both of which are serious hazmats. > > 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
