For at least the last 5 years we have been using the Surgipath Bio-Wraps.
We cut each in half to double the number of wraps we can use.

Bill Sinai
Laboratory Manager
Tissue Pathology
ICPMR
P.O. Box 533
Wentworthville NSW 2145

Subject: Tea bags, staples and tiny biopsies


> Tea bags were great, but I always worried (from the tech standpoint and
> having an expensive automated processor to maintain) that the tiny staple
> would release and go into the machine innards, setting off a bomb so to
> speak!
>
> After having flat biopsies innumerable times, tried lens paper, but folded
> it in such a way, like folding a filter paper for filtering stains,
> triangular, that old way.  Biospy was placed in bottom of this space, then
> folded over several times at the top, away from tiny fragments, placed
> carefully into cassette, making sure it would not unfold.  To embed, often
> took a microspatula, heated, and carefully scraped every tissue fragment
> from filter paper.
>
> Some lens papers are a bit sturdier than others, so be careful.  Blotting
> papers or filter papers had too many loose fibers, plus heavy handed on
> flattening round needle biopsies. I must admit, I am impressed with some
of
> the newer cassettes out, but have not had to use them.
>
> Artifact free tissue resulted, and I never lost tissues, they were well
> processsed.  The tiny bit of space seemed to help, but care at embedding
> was mandatory.  Good light, a white surface, plus not flipping things open
> willy nilly.
> Gayle Callis
> MT,HT,HTL(ASCP)
> Histopathology Supervisor
> Veterinary Molecular Biology
> Montana State University - Bozeman
> Bozeman MT