[Histonet] Snap-Frost System

[Galbraith, Joe]

Hello:

Does anyone have any experience with using the Snap-Frost rapid freezing
system from Alphelys (France)?  Our application is predominantly for
tissue banking though we do a booming business in intraoperative
diagnosis as well.  The company and one review article {Virchow Arch
(2008) 452:305-312} claim good RNA/DNA recovery from OCT embedded,
isopentane frozen tissue using the system.  They also claim good to
excellent morphology at -80 in isopentane compared to liquid nitrogen at
-190 and especially compared to CO2 freezing.  Can anyone confirm or
refute the claims?  Does anyone know of a US based supplier of the
Snap-Frost system?   Thanks.

Joe Galbraith
University of Iowa Tissue Repository