U54 SCENT Histology H&E Staining
Shannon McCall
Abstract
To provide a standardized method of running, cleaning, refilling, and verifying quality of the automatic H&E stainer. Every morning before running slides for projects, a quality control slide containing brain, kidney, liver, and pancreas tissue is run, reviewed, and deemed acceptable by a histotechnician, who documents this review.
Steps
Protocol - Operating Autostainer and Running Daily Quality Control
Open cover of autostainer and remove each lid of the reagents inside. Stack lids and set to the
right side of autostainer. Close cover.
Hit switch on the right side of autostainer to turn on and initialize.
Once initialization is complete, press button on screen to select staining program 1.
Take one slide from the box of unstained H&E control slides and label with:
a. H&E QA
b. Date
c. Tech initials
Place the slide into a black 30-count slide rack.
Pull the lever below the loading drawer on the autostainer to open.
Place slide rack inside and close.
Hit button to the left of loading drawer to begin staining run.
When staining has finished, autostainer will periodically beep.
Pull the lever below the exit drawer on the autostainer to open.
Press button next to exit drawer so instrument knows the rack was removed. (Autostainer will
continue to beep otherwise.)
Coverslip and microscopically verify correct staining of control tissues.
Denote onRHL Internal H&E Histologic Quality Check. If staining quality is suboptimal,
troubleshoot.
If staining is acceptable,write “PASS” on slide andstore in labeled control slide box next to
autostainer.
File form in H&E quality control binder at the end of the month.
Any research slides for the day can be loaded in the same way once the review is complete.
At the end of the workday, open cover and replace reagent lids to prevent evaporation. Close
cover.
Autostainer Program 1
A | B | C |
---|---|---|
1 | Xylene | 2 min |
2 | Xylene | 2 min |
3 | Xylene | 2 min |
4 | 100% Alcohol | 2 min |
5 | 100% Alcohol | 30 sec |
6 | 95% Alcohol | 2 min* |
7 | 95% Alcohol | 1 min |
Wash 5 | Water wash | 1 min |
8 | Hematoxylin* | 30 sec* |
Wash 4 | Water Wash | 30 sec |
Wash 3 | Water Wash | 2 min |
9 | Clearing Solution | 30 sec |
Wash 2 | Water Wash | 1 min |
10 | Bluing Solution | 30 sec |
Wash 1 | Water Wash | 30 sec |
11 | 80% Alcohol | 30 sec |
12 | Eosin* | 30 sec |
13 | 95% Alcohol | 30 sec |
14 | 95% Alcohol | 30 sec |
15 | 100% Alcohol | 30 sec |
16 | 100% Alcohol | 30 sec |
17 | Xylene | 30 sec |
18 | Xylene | 30 sec |
Exit (19) | Xylene | Hold-exit station |
*These are the only two stations with hard times. Slides may be held longer in other stations when multiple racks are being run at the same time.
Protocol - Changing the Autostainer
At the end of the work week, remove all staining containers and empty into the chemical waste containers located below autostainer
Rinse containers out with water and, working over the sink, fill with a 10% bleach solution for at least 15 minutes or until visibly clean.
Rinse out containers and place upright on a counter that has been covered with Wypall pads. Leave to air dry over the weekend.
Fill water wash containers with 10% bleach and then 3 changes of waterto remove bleach residue (containers will automatically drain when filled).
Flush 10% bleach solution followed with 3 changes of water through the base of the stainer. Use a bleach-soaked Wypall pad to spot clean any splashed staining reagents. NOTE: Manual H&E stain line should remain set up until autostainer is refilled and tested the next week to ensure one staining line is always available for use.
At the beginning of the work week, refill staining containers and place back into autostainer.
Reagent setup is as follows:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Xylene | Xylene | Xylene | 100% Alcohol | 100% Alcohol | 95% Alcohol | 95% Alcohol | Wash 1 | Wash 2 | Wash 3 | Wash 4 | Wash 5 |
Xylene | Xylene | Xylene | 100% Alcohol | 100% Alcohol | 95% Alcohol | 95% Alcohol | Eosin | 80% Alcohol | Bluing Solution | Clearing Solution | Harris Hematoxylin |
Mark reagents changed on Autostainer Maintenance Log.