RE: embedding small critters

From:"Morken, Tim" <tim9@cdc.gov>

One technique I use with extremely small specimens is to embed a piece of
black paper with a sharp point with the specimen, placing the point just
next to the specimen. Then, even if the specimen was invisible, I could
orient to the place where it should be. Of course you have to keep the paper
point out of the plane of sectioning. Worked every time. 


Tim Morken, BA, EMT(MSA), HTL(ASCP)
Infectious Disease Pathology Activity
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Ms-G32
1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30333
USA

PH: 404-639-3964
FAX: 404-639-3043

email: tim9@cdc.gov



-----Original Message-----
From: STYLER@dnr.state.md.us [mailto:STYLER@dnr.state.md.us]
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2001 11:17 AM
To: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
Subject: embedding small critters



Dear Histonetters:

Could you give me advice on a "small" problem? I am working with an animal
that is 244 microns in size. We currently take digital photos to identify
the animal prior to embedding. The animal is then marked with eosin for
better viewing, transported by glass pipette to a piece of lenspaper and
covered with a drop of 1.7% agar for easier manipulation. The animal is then
processed on a 2 hour schedule and routinely embedded.

In some cases, while embedding, the agar adhered to the lens paper. In other
cases, the animal was no longer present/visible but the agar plug still
remained. I sectioned and stained the remaining agar plugs to confirm the
presence or absence of the animal.


I tried different concentrations of agar.
The mesh in the histology body bags is to small.
Growth hormone is not an option:)
Can anyone offer processing suggestions?

Sue Tyler HT (ASCP)
Center for Coastal Environmental Health 
and Biomolecular Research
Cooperative Oxford Lab
904 South Morris Street
Oxford, MD 21654
styler@dnr.state.md.us 

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