Phil,

Have you tried using a conventional steel knife to overcome the chatter.

Best Regards

Alan Bright

Bright Instrument Co.Ltd.
St Margarets Way
Huntingdon
PE18 6EB
England

Tel No:+44 (0)1480 454528
Fax No:+44 (0)1480 456031
Email: AlanBright@brightinstruments.com
Web Site: www.brightinstruments.com
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-----Original Message-----
From: Hall, Phil <Phil.Hall@ubht.swest.nhs.uk>
To: 'Histonet' <HistoNet@pathology.swmed.edu>
Date: Friday, July 30, 1999 02:52
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
>