Hi Phil.

I have some suggestions.

First, the biopsies may be brittle because of processing.  If possible,
shorten the program.  They only need a half hour in each paraffin bath.
Excessive exposure to the heat and long periods in alcohols all attribute
the the brittle characteristics.

Second, try rough cutting the blocks enough to expose the tissue.  Place
the blocks on ice that has been wet with water.  This will quence the
tissue.  When the tissue is slightly opaque they should cut very easily.
This was routine for all the blocks in my lab and the slides where
beautiful.

Good luck.

Rande Kline HT (ASCP)






"Hall, Phil" <Phil.Hall@ubht.swest.nhs.uk> on 07/30/99 09:29:41 AM

To:   "'Histonet'" <HistoNet@pathology.swmed.edu>
cc:
Subject:  Micro-chatters in gastric biopsies




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