Donna,

We also run our GI biopsies with our other larger tissue (we are a small
hospital-one processor). After we face our blocks, we use a 4 x 4 folded
piece of wet gauze (water only) and allow the gauze to sit on the block
(while it is still in the chuck on the microtome) for about 30 seconds to a
minute, remove the gauze and cool the block down with "Freeze'It" (Fisher).
Then we section as usual at 4 microns or less. The sections are beautiful
without any microchatter. This has worked well for us. I have found the key
is to make sure that the block soaks long enough with the wet gauze. This is
a judgement call depending on your experience using this method. The
pathologists say that they are the best sections they have ever seen! Must
be doing something right! I hope that this helps you. Having to run our tiny
biopsies (GI and well as skin) with the larger tissues makes the cutting job
more challenging but there are ways to compensate for the inconvenience of
having only one processor. This is only a suggestion but it works for us. 

Have A Great Histo Day,
Diane

Diane C. Gladney, HT(ASCP)
Moncrief Army Community Hospital
Dept. of Pathology, Histology Section
Ft. Jackson, SC 29207-5600



-----Original Message-----
From: Laurie Colbert [mailto:laurie.colbert@schs.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2002 11:25 AM
To: Histonet
Subject: Re: GI biopsy blues


Donna,

Is your lab manager a histotech (in other words, is she talking from
experience)?  I have some techs here that insist on soaking everything,
too, and it drives me crazy.  When I sit down and cut, I do not need to
soak everything.  Of course there are some blocks that do need to be
soaked and I will soak those.  I blow on my blocks as I cut and this
seems to help.

I don't know if you have another processor that you could put the
biopsies on, but a shorter run would definitely help with the dryness of
the blocks.

Laurie Colbert
Huntington Hospital
Pasadena, CA