[Histonet] Another embedding query

Wed Jan 21 16:31:24 CST 2004

As long as you have a homogenous block with all your tissue at the 
appropriate plane - I don't think it much matters.  If you thrust cold 
tissue into molten paraffin, you're going to have tissue popping out 
because of the lack of homogenous(ness?) Homogeneity? You fill in the 
noun.  If your mold is too cold when you put your tissue in, your block 
will crumble around the edges.  That's why we are artists - each block is 
unique, and takes a skilled person with some brains (left after formalin 
fixation) to determine what is best for each block.  I've tried everything 
- that's how I learned what NOT to do.  I prefer using room temp molds 
because some of the newer cassettes have a perfect leak-hole at the bottom 
where the hinge was - if the mold is as hot as the paraffin, it leaks a 
lot.  If the mold is room temp, it chills faster, and I have less leaking 
paraffin.  Face it - it's a messy job.  If we're taking a poll, I keep my 
cassettes in the warm embedding center sans molten paraffin - but I embed 
everything in less than an hour.  I find for my purposes, the tissue is 
kept at a decent temp to embed, and the paraffin it was processed in 
protects it from the air.  Seems to work OK for what I'm doing.  If it 
ain't broke, don't fix it.  I'm all for heading off disaster, but I don't 
see any looming on the horizon for us as far as embedding artifacts, etc.

Jacqueline M. O'Connor HT(ASCP)
Abbott Laboratories
Global Pharmaceutical Research and Development
Discovery Chemotheraputics

"Stapf, Ross" <RossS <@t> BaylorHealth.edu>
Sent by: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
01/21/2004 03:11 PM

        To:     "pam plumlee" <paw555 <@t> yahoo.com>, <histonet <@t> pathology.swmed.edu>
        cc: 
        Subject:        RE: [Histonet] Another embedding query

At my former hospital they embedded dry with room temperature molds.
Here they embed dry with hot molds.

I think the practice of using room temperature molds at my former job
was mostly due to the main embedding tech's preference for ergonomic
comfort.  They have the old Shandon Embedding Centers and she prefered
the molds to be on top of the unit, reach for the tissue with the right
hand and the mold with the left.

Ross M Stapf
Histopathology Manager
Baylor University Medical Center
3500 Gaston Ave.
Dallas, TX 75246
214-820-2465 
214-820-4110 fax
RossS <@t> baylorhealth.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of pam
plumlee
Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2004 2:45 PM
To: histonet <@t> pathology.swmed.edu
Subject: [Histonet] Another embedding query

Since the subject of embedding styles is being
discussed...I have a new co-worker (great tech with
many years experience), that embeds with small amount
of paraffin in the holding tank and with room temp.
metal molds.  I've tried it and don't like it
much...maybe I just have to get used to it. So far the
only benefit I've seen is a little less paraffin
around the blocks-hey, whats a para-trimmer for? 
Anyone practice or tried this method?  Thanks, Pam

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