you wrote

<Hi everyone I am looking for a little help regarding my VIP Processor.
We had an MVP processor for years and recently bought a VIP Processor.
We have set up our program exactly as it is on the MVP processor and
we are having problems with the larger tissues being unfixed and the
biopsies being dry. We process approximately 150 blocks a day. I have
thought about changing the 70 and 80% alcohol twice a week if need be.
I was under the impression that this processor was supposed to keep
the solutions cleaner. Any ideas?>

Without your specific processing protocol it will be
difficult to make helpful comments.
We will also need to know the cassette capacity of your VIP model to
determine the appropriate schedule for solution change. For example,
if you have the 300 cassette model, at 150 per day your solutions
will last longer than if you have the 200 cassette model.

Many have recognized that there are drawbacks to processing surgicals
and biopsies on the same machine for the reasons you mentioned.
Biopsies are likely to be over-processed by the time your surgicals
are adequately dehydrated and cleared.

Although I have had no experience with the MVP, I can't imagine that
the processing problems you describe are the result of this
instrument change.

Please share with us your specific processing protocol, including the
specific reagents used and the times in each station as well as the
processor model.
******************************************************************
Vinnie Della Speranza
Technical Director
Anatomic Pathology Laboratories
University Hospital & Medical Center
State University of New York at Stony Brook 11794-7025
(516) 444-8249
fax: (516) 444-3419
vdella@path.som.sunysb.edu