We use 10 % Neutral Buffered Formalin. It is a wonderful fixative and gives us really great fixation. It does sound like you are overly dehydrating your tissues.
Valerie A. Hannen, MLT(ASCP),HTL,SU(FL) Histology Section Chief Parrish Medical Center 951 N. Washington Ave. Titusville, Florida 32976 Phone:(321) 268-6333 ext. 7506 Fax: (321) 268-6149 valerie.han...@parrishmed.com -----Original Message----- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Lake, Kim S Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 11:31 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Processor question - alcoholic formalin vs. buffered formalin I attended the Tri-State Symposium in Dubuque, IA last week (which was fantastic) and sat in on a "Boot Camp for Histology" workshop. At this workshop I realized that some problems we have been having with sectioning could be due to our processor set up. Before microtomy we have to soak our blocks for 10-15 minutes, and I suspect that this is because we are over dehydrating our tissues in the during processing. Our first solution, which the cassettes sit in for about 8 hours until the overnight processing begins, is alcoholic formalin, which is 450ml buffered formalin, 900ml water, and 3300ml 95% alcohol. Our processor is a Leica TP 1050 that has been chugging along for about 20 years now. The reason we use alcoholic formalin instead of just normal buffered formalin has been lost to the mists of time, and I was wondering what you all use as a holding solution on your processor, and why. Thanks! Kim Lake Laboratory Manager Oral Pathology Laboratory University of Iowa College of Dentistry Phone (319) 384 4433 Fax (319) 353 5569 _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet ====================================="This email is intended solely for the use of the individual to whom it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential or otherwise exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If the reader of this email is not the intended recipient or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately delete this message. Thank you" ===================================== _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet