Most laboratories today are using some type of automated staining platform. Not only does this free up techs to do other things, it also lends itself to stain consistency. But, like all other instruments in the laboratory, maintenance and quality control are imperative to stain success. Clean and maintain your stainer per manufacturer specifications. If your laboratory is high volume, it may be appropriate to decrease the time between maintenance tasks. Either way, ALWAYS have a trained engineer perform mechanical work on your instrument. Most companies offer service plans that allow users to call in for service and they typically will also schedule the preventative maintenance with you. Be aware of companies that attempt to provide service without showing their credentials for the instrument. Poor service from an outside vendor can be just as damaging as not having any service at all.
