[Histonet] Cassette Blues

[srnty <@t> aol.com]

This list has been invaluable to me since returning part-time to histology after an 8 year hiatus. Thank you.

Here's my latest dilemma. When I left the last job, I swear the holes in the plastic tissue cassettes were larger. I got to the point where I could embed and barely have to scrape any paraffin off the block before cutting. I am making the biggest mess with these newer cassettes. They are slotted.

First of all, I get air bubbles in the blocks and the tissue has to be re-embedded. I may have solved this problem by tapping on the top of the cassette. If anyone has another method, would you kindly share it with me? Secondly, there is so much paraffin on the outside of the block, I have to scrape and scrape and scrape. Any one out there able to embed neatly with these and if so what's your method?

Many thanks! Marg