Buy an alcohol hydrometer, and test the last absolute alcohol. If you have
never used one, you can buy them from Fisher for $20-50 dollars. Looks like
a large thermometer, with markings in percent. Pour some of the last
absolute alcohol in a large (1000 mL) graduate cylinder. Place the
hydrometer in the alcohol. It will float. Read the marking at the meniscus
of the alcohol (you may have to adjust for room temperature - usually comes
with a chart).

If the final absolute alcohol is still 100% - then go ahead and extend the
number of days processing before changing. If it's under about 98%, don't
extend. Has too much carry over water in it.

By the way, do you change all solutions at once, or do you rotate (change
just the first solutions of each percent alcohol, first clearant, first
paraffin)? Might be cheaper to rotate.  

Peggy Wenk, HTL(ASCP)SLS
William Beaumont Hospital
Royal Oak, MI 48073

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Barb
Richmond
Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2005 5:42 PM
To: 'histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu'
Subject: [Histonet] VIP PROCESSORS

We currently are processing 1100  blocks per week on one of our processors
and on the other we process small biopsies that total around 250/week.
Currently we change both processors twice a week and are considering cutting
it back to once a week.  I need some support before I go ahead and change
this procedure. Any comments??

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