I use an anti-static brush from Fisher. It contains a small amount of
radioactive polonium which keeps the brush charged in a way that neutralizes
static on contact. 

For me the biggest culprit is not body static - although I do avoid wearing
gloves (except with HIV cases). 

Our Microm 505 has a clear plastic anti-roll plate. The act of cutting
frozen human muscle puts a big static charge on the anti-roll plate. So much
so that the section will stick and crumple instead of sliding nicely under
the plate. 

I know this is what's happening because I can eliminate the problem by
brushing the underside of the anti-roll plate with the anti-static brush.
Unfortunately I have to brush it between every section to get consistently
good results. 

But I NEVER EVER have a problem with sections jumping or even standing up. I
don't have to be careful flipping up the anti-roll plate since there is no
static which will pull the section along with it. The extra time needed to
brush the anti-roll plate after every section is made up for by being able
to quickly flip up the anti-roll plate and never having to tease a section
to lay flat before picking it up. 

I pick up all sections on charged slides with excellent preservation of
morphology. 

Hope this helps someone...

P.S. Dear Microm and other cryostat manufacturers: Would you please make
your anti-roll plates out of a conductive plastic? Such plastics are seen
everywhere wrapping every piece of computer hardware sold - to protect
against electrostatic discharge. It would be great if the anti-roll plate
could dissipate static by itself!! I'd even be willing to pay a small sum to
put such a piece of plastic in my cryostat.

-brice
Brigham & Women's Hospital
Neuropathology Lab


> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Amy Johnson [SMTP:ajohnson@aipathology.com]
> Sent:	Monday, December 03, 2001 11:58 AM
> To:	'Histonet'
> Subject:	Cryostat static
> 
> Our pathology group has a LEICA CM1850 cryostat, My question to the
> histonet
> is......Does anyone experience static electricity when trying to pick up
> sections?  When we try to pick up the sections they will fly up to the
> slide
> or off on their own.  We would like to know how to remedy this if there is
> any. Thanks for your help
> Amylin Johnson
> Associates in Pathology
> Wausau, WI