Hi,
    We have had similar problems with etched slides breaking on DAKO
Autostainers. Non etched slides have also broken too but not with the frequency
of those etched by our TBS labelers.
    We have also noted that the TBS. etchers break down frequently, especially
if there are six running all day printing upwards of 5000 slides per day. Heavy
workload aside, it is nonetheless irritating to have them break down.
Amos Brooks

Tim Morken wrote:

> Jennifer,
>
> It is possible to do away with paper labels for the great majority of
> slides. You have to remember, however, that with a slide etcher or printer
> the info has to be put on the slide before sectioning, so there is some
> inflexiblity there. Also, the etched labels don't look as nice as paper
> labels. If you can accept that you will still need paper labels occasionally
> you can do most of the labeling with the slide etcher or printer. Then you
> only have to see if you can afford the machines!
>
> We have the TBS slide and cassette labelers and like them a lot. You can put
> a lot of info on the slide with this system. For the most part it works
> great. One thing we found out is that sometime the etched slides break in
> our DAKO autostainer; apparently from stress points caused by the etching
> and the way the DAKO plastic slide racks hold the slides.
>
> The TBS system can also be interfaced with some LIS's which can save time in
> certain circumstances.
>
> We use the etcher to label all the slides with the accession number, the
> date and the tech initials. For our special stains, IHC and ISH experiments
> we make paper labels (actually Nalgene poly-paper) which are printed on the
> laser printer. The info for the labels comes from our lab database system
> (MS-Access)and needs no extra work (typing) to produce.
>
> Even if you use a database just to type in label information and then print
> on a laser printer it will be faster than typing in a typewriter because you
> can set some info to repeat or increment automatically and can copy and
> paste. If you can get your LIS to print labels or export info to label
> printing software you will save a lot of time.
>
> Tim Morken, B.A., EMT(MSA), HTL(ASCP)
> Infectious Disease Pathology
> Centers for Disease Control
> MS-G32
> 1600 Clifton Rd.
> Atlanta, GA 30333
> USA
>
> email: tim9@cdc.gov
>        timcdc@hotmail.com
>
> Phone: (404) 639-3964
> FAX:  (404)639-3043
>
> ----Original Message Follows----
> From: Jennifer Saunders <histoed@yahoo.com>
> To: HistoNet@pathology.swmed.edu
> Subject: slide labeling choices
> Date: Thu, 4 Nov 1999 21:08:38 -0800 (PST)
>
> Hello all
> We are looking into different ways to label slides and
> was hoping some of you might have some suggestions. I
> kind of like the idea of using a slide
> labeling/etching system and doing away with labels all
> together. Is this realistic or just fantasy? What are
> your experiences? I have heard that some paper label
> systems are more of a pain as far as entering all the
> information through the computer and so don't really
> save any time. Any and all input welcome.
>
> Thanks
> Jennifer Saunders H.T.
>
> =====
>
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