[Histonet] Paraffin Block trimming

[Ingles Claire]

I've noticed that if I put a little extra pressure on the cassette on top of the mold when putting in the liquid paraffin it doesn't seem to seep out the bottom sides and therefore cleaner blocks. The fill level in the cassette matters too. I usually fill mine about 3/4 to the top of the cassette to compensate for shrinkage during chilling and still have the block and cassette firmly mounted together. We use regular fisherbrand cassettes and metal molds.
Claire

________________________________

From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu on behalf of Merced Leiker
Sent: Thu 3/19/2009 10:15 AM
To: Bartlett, Jeanine (CDC/CCID/NCZVED); Martin, Gary; Paula Pierce; Histonet
Subject: RE: [Histonet] Paraffin Block trimming



hmmm...I do too...Fisher 15-182-505B HistoPrep
Stainless-Steel Base Molds...maybe it's the cassette design or type of wax
used?  (VWR 15147-839 POLYFIN, VWR 87002-362 HISTOSETTE
Cassettes, Simport Plastics
Biopsy Cassettes)