Phil,
It sound like your biopsies are over processed. You might want to run all your
biopsies on a short run (2-3 hours depending on fixation) on your tissue
processor. Process all of your larger specimens as usual.


"Hall, Phil" wrote:

> Does anyone see microscopic chatters (cracks parallel to the knife edge) in
> endoscopy biopsies (approx 0.2cm diameter)?
>
> We have been seeing these in our paraffin sections of these biopsies so
> badly that the Pathologists sometimes complain it makes diagnosis difficult.
> We do not seem to have any problems with large tissue blocks or bone.  We
> cut sections at 3 microns using a manual rotary microtome with disposable
> S35 blades.
> So far we have done the following to try to stop this happening:
>
> changed microtome - including buying a new one
> changed blades - including using a different supplier
> changed the microtome knife angle
> cut them slower and faster
> cut them very cold or warm
> let them float on the water bath for longer or picked them up straight away
>
> Any other ideas?
>
> Phil Hall
> Paediatric Pathology
> St Michael's Hospital
> BRISTOL
> UK