I am curious about the reason for your question Joyce.

We have been using Penfix as our primary fixative for fatty breast
biopsies for the last year and a half in order to try to meet the
unrealistic expectations of our surgeons to have diagnostic results closer
to twenty four rather than forty eight hours from the date of surgery.
Even though we tell them that they will get better results if we allow the
tissue to fix longer, they don't want to hear it and expect more rapid
results.  We have had success with Penfix and our surgeons seem satisfied
with the turn around time.

It has come to our attention through IMPATH labs that DAKO's Hercept Test
was FDA approved using 10% NB Formalin or Bouins only.  Since there is now
a concern that Hercept Test results on tissue fixed other than mentioned
above (Penfix with all the alcohols for example) are suspect, we also need
to find something else that will allow faster fixation to meet the needs
of our surgeons and not compromise Hercept Test findings.

Effective Monday, we stopped using Penfix as our primary fixative for
breast biospies. We are continuing to use it in our tissue processor.

Has anyone else been made aware of this issue with DAKO's Hercept Test?


On Tue, 11 Apr 2000, joyce judge wrote:

> Does anyone know of any alternatives to "PenFix"
> Joyce Judge
> Saints Memorial Medical Center
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
> http://im.yahoo.com
>
>