[Histonet] OCT Buffer for histo and cryopreservation

Wed Oct 1 08:27:59 CDT 2003

My pathologist wanted me to find out if any one uses this technique 
and what sort of costs would be associated with it.

Thank you

Maureen

>
>| From:
>| Date:  Thu, 25 Sep 2003 11:10:53 -0500
>| Subject:  formalin
>|
>|
>|
>| Greetings BBAG members,
>|
>| I am writing in response to postings last month concerning formalin
>| collections:
>|
>| Modern methods of research and diagnostics are increasingly turning
>| to the molecular genetic level. Thus it is becoming increasingly
>| important for those dealing with any aspect of tissue sampling to be
>| aware of the potential downstream utility of the specimens that they
>| collect. Simply maintaining jars of formalin-fixed material is
>| difficult to justify in light of storage space and maintenance costs
>| compared with the lack of downstream utility of the specimen for
>| molecular analysis (formalin causes DNA to bind to histone proteins,
>| making it useless for all but the crudest of molecular assays and it
>| virtually destroys RNA).
>|
>| What many research hospitals and biotech companies conducting
>| pathology research prefer to do is: collect the tissue specimen in
>| OCT buffer and cryopreserve it. Such a sample is amenable to both
>| traditional sectioning as well as DNA/RNA analysis - which helps
>| justify collecting and retaining the sample since it has value for
>| other as yet unidentified research purposes. It is important to
>| realize that such a sample takes up far less space than a jar of
>| formalin, and assuming the freezer doesnt malfunction, requires less
>| maintenance as well. Cryopreserved tissues can be used in molecular
>| assays ranging from paternity exclusion, to retrospective
>| epidemiological surveys and environmental toxicology examinations.
>| Such a collection is of far greater prospective value than
>| traditional collections and individuals/institutions need to
>| carefully examine the underlying justification for making biomaterial
>| collections in light of limited financial resources. A plastic
>| cryovial is far less expensive than a jar of formalin - and OCT
>| buffer is much less toxic than formalin.
>|
>| It is easy to make a strong case for archiving frozen tissues,
>| despite the up front capital costs for freezers... Ultimately, using
>| liquid Nitrogen protects your collection from mechanical freezer
>| failure and power outages, as well as providing temperatures cold
>| enough to preserve viable cells, including gametes and embryos. Thus,
>| Many institutions can benefit from establishing a centralized
>| biomaterial core facility which can serve many different researchers
>| - from vets and pathologists, to conservation geneticists and repro
>| specialists. It can also be advantageous to enter into a strategic
>| partnership with a dedicated cryostorage facility which can backup
>| your collection at a remote fail-safe location.
>|
>| No matter what you collect or how you collect it, I cannot overstate
>| the importance of having an electronic inventory of your collection
>| for rapid information dissemination and specimen retrieval. A
>| collection only has value when researchers are aware of its existence
>| and contents. Fortunately, there are a number of prepackaged
>| software/hardware systems which will allow for computer generation of
>| specimen labels, sample tracking, etc.
>|
>| The international Society for Biological and Environmental
>| Repositories (ISBER) will have "Repository Design and Data
>| Management" as a theme for our next annual meeting, to be held at the
>| American Museum of Natural History May 11-14, 2004. Those interested
>| in learning more about modern biomaterial collections and their
>| management should consider attending this conference. In the mean
>| time, feel free to contact me if you have any specific questions and
>| I will do my best to steer to someone who can help answer them (if I
>| cannot do so myself).
>|
>| Robert Hanner, Ph.D.
>| Scientific Program Director
>| Coriell Institute for Medical Research
>| 403 Haddon Avenue
>| Camden, NJ 08103
>|
>| Voice: (856) 757-9727
>| Fax: (856) 757-9737
>| <http://cimr.umdnj.edu>http://cimr.umdnj.edu
>|
>| President
>| International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories
>| <http://www.ISBER.org>http://www.ISBER.org
>|
>| >
>| >| With respect to Scott's question, "wet" formalin-fixed tissues have been
>| >| placed in glass jars with screw top lids for long-term storage.  At the
>| >| present time, these tissues are being kept permanantly.  Full sets of
>| >| tissue are trimmed in, paraffin embedded, and a set of glass slides is
>| >| prepared for the majority of the collection animals.  The blocks and
>| >| glass slides are also permanently kept.  All of the materials are
>| >| presently housed on-site either in a moderately sized room off our
>| >| histology lab or in a large metal "container" behind the Health Center.
>| >| What happens when all the room is filled?  Not yet sure.  It is likely
>| >| that over the next little while (year or two) we will have to rethink
>| >| our policy of keeping everything forever since space issues and several
>| >| other problems that John detailed quite nicely (maintenance of the jars
>| >| - topping them off, clean-up, and personnel time to manage the archived
>| >| tissues) are and will continue to be problems.  It is likely that blocks
>| >| and slides will be kept permanently and that decisions will have to be
>| >| made about the formalin fixed tissues.  I can contact you at a later
>| >| date once we have decided what our course for the future will be.
>| >|
>| >| Regarding the usefulness of tissues for molecular diagnostic techniques
>| >| after long-term formalin fixation...I have little expertise in this
>| >| area, however I seem to have heard or read similar information to what
>| >| John describes and have also gotten mixed results when I have run immuno
>| >| on tissues that have been stored for a long time in formalin before
>| >| being paraffin embedded.
>| >|
>| >| D
>| >|
>| >| D McAloose, VMD, Diplomate ACVP
>| >| Acting Head, Department of Pathology
>| >| Wildlife Conservation Society
>| >| Department of Pathology
>| >| 2300 Southern Blvd
>| >| Bronx, NY  10460
>| >| (718)  220-7105
>| >| <mailto:dmcaloose <@t> wcs.org>dmcaloose <@t> wcs.org
>| >|
>| >|
>|
>| >
>| >|
>| >| ----------------------------------------------------------------
>| >| | From:
>| >| | Date:  Wed, 30 Jul 2003 07:01:08 -0500
>| >| | Subject:  Wet tissue archiving
>| >| |
>| >| |
>| >| | [attachment below: attachment 279f2c-2]
>| >| |
>| >| | Hello all,
>| >| |
>| >| | I am trying to get a feel for methods of long-term storage of "wet"
>| >| | formalin fixed tissues.  I currently use a heat sealed plastic bag
>| >| | system in my lab, but am looking for other opinions concerning these
>| >| | tissues.  Answers or discussion about any or all of these questions
>| >| | would be great:
>| >| |
>| >| | 1. Do you think long term stored wet tissues have value (other than
>| >| | histopathology)?
>| >| |	I was under the general impression that tissues that sit in formalin
>| >| | for years are no longer good for genetics, immuno, in situ, PCR, etc
>| >| | 2. What is the best way to keep wet tissues long term (10,20,50 years
>| >| or
>| >| | more)?
>| >| | 3. Have you had good or bad experience with plastic bags or any other
>| >| | system?
>| >| | 4. What happens when you run out of space?
>| >| | 5. Some institutions actually trim all of their wet tissues into
>| >| | paraffin blocks for storage...does anyone have experience with this?
>| >| | 6. Any input would be welcomed
>| >| |
>| >| | Scott P. Terrell, DVM, Diplomate ACVP
>| >| |
>| >| | Veterinary Pathologist, Walt Disney World Animal Programs
>| >| | Assistant Professor, Pathobiology, University of Florida College of
>| >| | Veterinary Medicine
>| >| |
>| >| |
>| >| | Office: (407)938-2746
>| >| | Fax: (407): 938-1909
>| >| |
>| >| | Address:
>| >| | Veterinary Services, Disney's Animal Kingdom
>| >| | 1200 N. Savannah Cir
>| >| | Bay Lake, FL 32830
>| >| |
>| >| |
>| >| |
>| >|
>|
>|
>| --
>|
>
>
>--
>Victoria L. Clyde, DVM
>Staff Veterinarian
>Milwaukee County Zoo
>10001 West Blue Mound Road
>Milwaukee, WI 53226
>414-771-3040 zoo
>414-256-5441 hospital
>414-256-5451 office
>414-256-2522 fax
><mailto:vclyde <@t> execpc.com>vclyde <@t> execpc.com

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	Maureen Decorah				(608) 262-0933
	1710 University Avenue			(608) 265-2698  Fax
	385 Enzyme Institute
	Madison, WI  53726-4087			decorah <@t> rarc.wisc.edu

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