We have recently acquired an automatic slide stainer. I wonder whether the staining protocols of H&E used manually are directly applicable to automatic stainers? Can one use both progressive and regressive staining on them? Suggestions are needed.
Manual staining often comprises more "movement" of the slides in the reagenses. Therefore 1 min in a jar with or without dipping makes a difference, that has to be taken into account. For example for rehydration 3-4 dips in the graded ethanols by hand is sufficient, but in our stainer we have times about 1-2 min.
Progressive hematoxylin is easier to implement on a stainer. We use 10 min in Mayer's hematoxylin. The staining is stable for many trays going through the jar. Blueing and rinsing is not critical.
Regressive staining needs a well calculated differentiation. The stainer has to support this with short and exact dipping times. Reagenses has to be changed more often, to get always the same results. But overall staining is shortened with regressive protocols.
hope this helps. Gudrun
Manual staining often comprises more "movement" of the slides in the reagenses. Therefore 1 min in a jar with or without dipping makes a difference, that has to be taken into account. For example for rehydration 3-4 dips in the graded ethanols by hand is sufficient, but in our stainer we have times about 1-2 min.
Progressive hematoxylin is easier to implement on a stainer. We use 10 min in Mayer's hematoxylin. The staining is stable for many trays going through the jar. Blueing and rinsing is not critical.
Regressive staining needs a well calculated differentiation. The stainer has to support this with short and exact dipping times. Reagenses has to be changed more often, to get always the same results. But overall staining is shortened with regressive protocols.
hope this helps. Gudrun
We have not changed the protocol but everything depends on your device. For example, our first machine had fewer containers than our manual protocol assumed and we had to find a larger device. Automatic slide stainer is good for every stain but multistaining require frequent changing of the reagents and you must have additional containers (cross-reactions of reagents, durable color). We use it generaly for HE and the other performed manually. You can use it for various staining, but only those that do not require control under a microscope during process. For example, I can use it to Nissl staining but not to Luxol Fast Blue (because I have to check the degree of differentiation).
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