For most histology demonstration of iron or copper, we are not doing a
quantitative analysis (exactly how much is in the tissue). We are usually
just demonstrating yes there is iron or copper, or no there is not. In the
case of hemosiderosis, hemochromatosis, or Wilson's disease, we might be
documenting there is a LOT of iron or copper, but we're don't demonstrating
a specific amount. If this is what you are doing (yes/no), then if your d.
water (either deionized or distilled) has practically no iron or copper in
it, there is no need to acid-clean glassware or the slides, as long as you
do the following:
1) Use the slides as they are from the box.
2) Wash the coplin jars in hot water with soap and bleach (or other
commercial cleaner). After rinsing in hot tap water several times (3-4),
rinse in d. water several times (3-4). To test to see if all the soap and
bleach (or cleaner) has been rinsed off completely, touch a pH strip to the
wet inside of the coplin jar. If the pH turns acidic or basic, then there is
still soap and/or commercial cleaner in it. Keep rinsing in d. water until
pH meter remains neutral.
3) Test your d. water once in a while for contaminants. A company called
HACH has a lot of kits for this, relatively cheap. Can test for resistivity
or conductivity, which will tell you how many ions are in the water. If
there are very few, then don't bother testing for which ones (unless you
HAVE to do the quantitative testing of minerals/metals). If there are a lot
of ions, then you might want to find out which ones, either by sending out
to an outside testing company, or buying some of Hach's tests for copper or
iron (since this is what you are concerned about).
Peggy A. Wenk, HTL(ASCP)SLS
Beaumont Hospital
Royal Oak, MI 48073
The opinions expressed are mine, and do not reflect one Beaumont Hospital.
-----Original Message-----
From: Esther C Peters
Sent: Sunday, September 16, 2012 3:20 PM
To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] Acid-cleaning of slides for metals stains
We are going to do special stains for iron (Perl's Prussian Blue for ferric
iron, Mallory's Method from WebPath: Internet Pathology Laboratory) and
copper (Rhodanine from Carson and Hladik) in mouse livers. We have on hand
unopened boxes of plus-charged microscope slides. Do we need to acid clean
these slides before we put sections on them for these stains (understanding
that the charge will no longer exist, but the cleaning is more important for
these stains)?
I would also appreciate any insights about the best acid-cleaning procedure
for all glassware for these stains. I have used nitric acid in the past,
swirling it around the staining dishes and covering glass racks in a
staining dish (how long should this be for?), then rinsing with
double-deionized water (or would you recommend distilled only?). Thank you!
Esther C. Peters, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Environmental Science & Policy
Biology Program/Medical Technology Coordinator
George Mason University
4400 University Drive, MSN 5F2
Fairfax, VA 22030-4444
Office: David King Hall 3057
Phone: 703-993-3462
Fax: 703-993-1066
epete...@gmu.edu
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