Gareth Davis asked about dyes to use to mark small GI biopsy specimens to make sure they're recovered during embedding.
I've had good results marking small specimens with the solution of safranin O that's used in the microbiologists' Gram stain. Go to the micro lab and ask for a small amount of it and try it. Do not use eosin on biopsy specimens. Eosin's brilliant fluorescence makes it very difficult to do any kind of fluorescent stain on the sections. (It also doesn't work as well as safranin, which isn't fluorescent.) Another necessary procedure at the gross desk: fill out a log sheet that records the number of specimens you put into the cassette, and have that log sheet in front of you when you embed. (I've had a lot of histotechs flatly refuse to do this.) I like those little blue foam pads you put in the cassette and put the small specimens on. I usually cut them in two before putting them in the cassette. Bob Richmond Samurai Pathologist Maryville TN _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
