Hi Amos and Ian
of course we can't always control the temperature, let me tell you about
the temperature in Houston!
Small specimens that are not easily visible are really not a problem, just wipe
over the surface with a cotton swab with a drop of eosin before sealing. The
tissue willl take up the eosin very rapidly and be readily visible.
Barry



Amos Brooks wrote:

> Hi,
>     Coating the block will not make any difference to the environmental
> control factor. If the area gets too hot, the blocks will soften and
> eventually melt together with or with out the coating. Oxidation, or similar
> decomposition may be prevented but so will facing off the affected area
> before cutting.
>     Small specimens can't be faced off like this, but since it is difficult
> to see the specimen when removing the coating, so facing through the
> specimen still presents a problem.
> Amos Brooks
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Clarke Ian" <clarke.ian@virgin.net>
> To: "histonet" <histonet@pathology.swmed.edu>
> Sent: Monday, July 30, 2001 6:16 PM
> Subject: Re Block storage
>
> > Hi all,
> > does anyone seal their block faces with wax for storage purposes ?If so at
> > what point do you seal them,once a day/week or does anyone do this
> straight
> > after the cut.The reason I am asking this is we have had a problem of
> block
> > deterioration as the block store we use at present is not environmentally
> > controlled.Does anyone utilise other chemicals such as thin coats of
> plastic
> > or vacuum packing?
> > Thanks in advance.
> > Ian