Tag Archives: ventana

Ventana Symphony Hematoxylin and Eosin Automated Stainer

Symphony H&E automated stainer

When this instrument came into the lab, I was sent to the Tucson location of Ventana Medical Systems for training on this instrument. It’s a completely modular system that is easy to fix by simply replacing the system that is broken. Just like the Benchmark XT, these machines pretty much ran non-stop during the operating hours in the lab. Many people fault this machine because it does break down because of the complicated transportation system it employs, but it’s easily fixed by a Ventana representative by simply replacing modules.

Ventana Benchmark XT

benchmark XT
Ventana Benchmark XT

These are the most widely used IHC stainers in histology. These machines were kept operating on a 24hour basis 7 days a week. They only came down for maintenance, repair, and decontamination. I’m really surprised that they didn’t break down more. Ventana reps were always fixing them, but only because they basically operated non-stop since they hit the production floor. Amazing work horse machine that does beautiful staining.

I was also in charge of doing decontaminations on these instruments.