Ronnie,

There is a good reason why students place an emphasis on exact staining
times, and not the microscope. They simply lack the experience to accurately
gauge or 'sense' the correct nuclear staining intensity. Coupled with the
fact they are usually learning both regressive and progressive staining
methods, they need time to develop their skills as a histo-microscopist.

After using an exact time for haematoxylin staining for a couple of weeks,
they will quickly appreciate the subtleties of nuclear staining. No-one was
an expert in their first year let alone their first day!!


Todd

Todd Walker
Lecturer in Cytology / Histology
School of Biomedical Sciences
Charles Sturt University
Wagga Wagga NSW 2650
AUSTRALIA
Tel: 02-69332541
Fax: 02-69332587

E-mail: towalker@csu.edu.au


-----Original Message-----
From:	Ronnie Houston [mailto:wee_rory@hotmail.com]
Sent:	Friday, 27 August 1999 0:05
To:	histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
Subject:	staining times

A recent question about the staining time of hematoxylin alludes to the
point of the recommended time in staining protocols.
This time is just that......that recommended by the author(s), but does not
reflect what is required for your own conditions. The microscope is the
ultimate control, and not what is written down in a cookbook-type method.
I have found that newer students to the profession tend to place too much
emphasis on exact staining times and not on microscopic control.

Just my observation, but would appreciate comments.

Ronnie Houston
Cytochemistry & Molecular Pathology
Texas Scottish rite Hospital for Children
Dallas


_______________________________________________________________
Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com