Laboratory Microwave Ovens Overview

Employing microwave technology in your laboratory, especially in Histology labs, is a simple process and will improve your operation on multiple levels. Whether you become an all-microwave lab or add microwave processing for stats, overflow, special stains and/or myriad other applications, you will find this line of laboratory microwaves to be the most efficient and versatile tool in your lab.

Benefits

• Fix, Process, Stain, and Decalcify tissue, in a fraction of the time of any other method or Microwave Processor
• Provide greater throughput than any other Microwave processor on the market for samples up to 3mm
• Reduce reagent use
• Eliminate the need for Xylene in your processing
• Allow a 50% reduction in your use of Xylene and Alcohol for H&E staining
• Open the door to using many safe and environmentally friendly alternative fixatives and clearing agents
• Provide an opportunity to drastically improve the quality of your fatty tissue processing
• Will not reduce slide quality
• Will not damage or degrade specimen antigenicity
• Does not adversely impact IHC or molecular downstream testing
• Speeds up laboratory workflow

Time and Cost Savings

Automation does not necessarily equal speed. Microwaves process tissue far more efficiently and cost-effectively than any other Tissue Processor. These are the fastest Processors on the market.

• Reagent used is directly proportional to the volume of samples being processed
• Xylene Free: use only Alcohols and Paraffin to process tissue with no Xylene clearing steps required
• Process 74 biopsies in < 20 minutes. No other Tissue Processor even comes close.
• Patented Polar Heat Sheets allow ultra-fast Microwave paraffin infiltration

Examples

Fixed Small Biopsies: GI, prostate, cervical material, etc.

Traditional Tissue Processor
Solution	Time
80% alcohol	20 min
80% alcohol	20 min
95% alcohol	20 min
95% alcohol	20 min
100% alcohol	20 min
100% alcohol	20 min
100% alcohol	20 min
Xylene	20 min
Xylene	20 min
Paraffin	20 min
Paraffin	20 min
TOTAL:	3 hr. 40 min

Microwave Tissue Processor
Solution	Time
100% alcohol	5 min
Isopropanol	5 min
Paraffin	5 min
Paraffin	5 min
TOTAL:	16 min

Routine Specimens 1-3mm thick (with Preserve® Fixation Step)

Traditional Tissue Processor
Solution	Time
Fixative	2 hr
95% alcohol	1 hr
95% alcohol	1 hr
100% alcohol	1 hr
100% alcohol	1 hr
Xylene	1 hr
Xylene	1 hr
Paraffin	1 hr
Paraffin	1 hr
Paraffin	1 hr
Paraffin	20 min
TOTAL:	11 hr. 20 min

Microwave Tissue Processor
Solution	Temp (°C)	Time
Preserve	55	16 min
100% alcohol	67	8 min
Isopropanol	74	8 min
Paraffin	74	8 min
Paraffin	84	28 min
TOTAL:		68 min

Applications

Microwave Processors perform the following critical lab functions, all in a fraction of the time required by conventional methods.

• Fixation
• Dehydration
• Infiltration
• Special Stains
• Immunohistochemistry
• Slide Drying
• Antigen Retrieval
• Decalcifications

Protocols

Fontana Masson Staining Timelines

Traditional Staining
Solution	Time/Temp
Nuclear Fast Red	5 min @ RT
Silver Nitrate	1 hr @ 60°C (oven or waterbath)

Microwave Staining
Solution	Power	Time
Nuclear Fast Red	High	30 sec
Silver Nitrate	High	45 sec, let stand in hot sol for 10 min

Masson Trichrome Staining Timelines

Traditional Staining
Solution	Time/Temp
Bouins	1 hr @ 56°C or overnight @ RT
Biebrich Scarlet-Acid Fuchsin	15 min @ RT
PMA/PTA	10-15 min @ RT
Aniline Blue	10-20 min@ RT

Microwave Staining
Solution	Power	Time
Bouins	High	15 sec, let stand in hot sol for 10 min
Biebrich Scarlet-Acid Fuchsin	High	20 sec
PMA/PTA	High	20 sec, let stand in hot sol for 2 min
Aniline Blue	High	20 sec, let stand in hot sol for 1 min

Model Comparison

Model	General Lab Microwave	Staining/General Lab Microwave	EMS-820 Precision Pulsed Microwave	EMS-9000 Precision Pulsed Microwave
Interior Dimensions (WxHxD)	14.5x9.25x14.5" 36.8x23.6x36.8cm	14.5x9.25x14.5" 36.8x23.6x36.8cm	12.4x12.4x8.07" 31.5x31.5x20.5cm	14.1x8.75x16.1" 35.8x22.2x40.9cm
Exterior Dimensions (WxHxD)	22x13.5x24" 55.8x34.3x60.9cm	22x13.5x24" 55.9x34.3x60.9cm	21.6x17.7x13.7" 55x45x35cm	21.7"x20.5"x25" 55.2x52.1x63.5cm
Power Level Control	5 Settings	Dial-in	Programmable	Programmable

Stored Protocols	20	20	40	40
Active Ventilation System	X	X	X	X
Power Balance System	X	X	X	X
CAP/OSHA Compliant	X	X	X	X
User Safety Interlocks	X	X	X	X
Sample Safety Interlocks			X	X
Variable Reagent Agitation		X	X	X
Fine Temperature Control			X	X
Multi-Step Protocols			X	X
Integral Vacuum Function				X
Multiple Operating Modes				X
Ultra-Rapid Processing				X
Made in the USA	X	X	X	X

EMS 820 Laboratory Microwave Oven