[Histonet] Rush bx schedule?

[Morken, Timothy]

For tissue, what step most contributes to subsequent swelling of tissue when the block is soaked? I'm thinking the 100% ETOH, xylene clearing and paraffin infiltration all contribute, but at what percentage?

Here is the current schedule, which apparently was meant to mimic a microwave schedule that was used before the MW quit working. The tissue - kidney and liver bx for the most part, up to 10 per day, is coming out soft and swells a bit when soaked. So sectioning is difficult.

We need to have a rapid schedule but need good sections. Obviously we are pushing the limits on this so need a bit of leeway for variation in tissue

So, I'm considering which of these steps is the most critical to lengthen.
This is on a VIP5 but we can also use a peloris for this processing

Formalin 2 min, 50degC (this is not necessary at all, IMHO)
80% ETOH 5 min, 50degC
95%ETOH 5 min, 50degC
100% ETOH 8 min, 50degC
Xylene, 9 min 50degC
Paraffin, 4 min,
Paraffin, 5 min

Thanks for your insight!



Tim Morken
Supervisor, Electron Microscopy and Neuromuscular Special Studies
UC San Francisco Medical Center
Box 1656
505 Parnassus Ave
San Francisco, CA 94143
USA

415.353.1266  (office)
tim.morken <@t> ucsfmedctr.org<mailto:tim.morken <@t> ucsfmedctr.org>