We have been having some trouble with the inner surface of the tubules looking torn look to the tissue. We hand process all our kidney bx's with the times as follows.

1-formalin 15 minutes
2-50% ethanol 15 minutes
3-70% ethanol 15 minutes
4-80% ethanol 15 minutes
5-95% ethanol 15 minutes
6-100% ethanol 15 minutes
7-100% ethanol 15 minutes
9-xylene 15 minutes
10-xylene 15 minutes
Parraffin x2, 20 minutes each. 
They are then cut at 1 micron for PAS & JONES  and 2 microns for H&E & TRICHROME. 

We are trying to determine if this tearing is an artifact from processing, collection or some other factor we haven't thought of. Has anyone else come across this or a similar problem. All thoughts and suggestions welcome.

Jennifer Saunders HT (ASCP)
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