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From: "Kim Carter" <carter.343@osu.edu>
To: "Ryan.Linda" <ryan2@niehs.nih.gov>
Subject: Re: soaking blocks
Date: Fri, Jun 23, 2000, 7:30 PM


Linda- Soaking your blocks can be a very helpful way of overcoming difficult
tissue. I use both warm and cold water soaks. Since I work in research,
there are times I recieve tissue already processsed, embedded and cut. This
means I have no control of the processing before the block gets to me to cut
again. I do not, however, use ammonium hydroxide when soaking blocks. While
working in a clinical lab, some fellow histotechs did soak in ammonium
hydroxide. I asked around at a state histology meeting I attended, and the
best thought someone gave me was: " When you use ammonium hydroxide, you
change the pH of the tissue and you may effect the staining down the road."
Since I had never gotten into the habit of using it, I did not have to
change. One more suggestion. If you feel you have a lot of tissue that needs
special care, you may want to examine the processing protocol you use. You
may be overdehydrating you specimens.

Kim Carter MLT,HT(ASCP)
Ohio State University
Comprehensive Cancer Center
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>From: "Ryan.Linda" <ryan2@niehs.nih.gov>
>To: "'histonet'" <histonet@pathology.swmed.edu>
>Subject: soaking blocks
>Date: Fri, Jun 23, 2000, 10:25 AM
>

>How many out in HistoLand soak your blocks in ice water with ammonium
>hydroxide added?  What are the pros and cons(other that the odor!) of using
>ammonium hydroxide?
>
>Thanks  
>
>Linda Ryan, BS, HT(ASCP)HTL
>National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
>111  T. W. Alexander Dr.
>Bldg./rm.: 101/C-262
>P.O. Box 12233
>Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
>(919) 541-4880(Laboratory)
>
>
>