[Histonet] FW: fixing whole brains

[Sharon Allen]

_____________________________________________
From: Sharon Allen 
Sent: November 18, 2010 8:08 AM
To: 'histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu'
Subject: fixing whole brains

Hi,
I would like to know what percentage of formalin Neuro Labs out there
use to fix their whole brains before cutup. We do just under a1000
brains a year & have always used 10% neutral buffered formalin for 2
weeks, then do brain cutting & place the cassettes into 70% alcohol
overnight then on the processor into 95% alcohol.  This has worked well.
But!!  We have been getting brains from outside our facility which have
been falling apart almost immediately in the waterbath. It is only the
brains from this facility that we have the problem with.  From the time
of brain cutting, through the processing, embedding & cutting, all
cassettes are handled the same, the only difference we can find is that
they put their whole brains into 20% formalin for 2 weeks & sometimes 6
weeks before we receive them.  Does anyone else use 20% formalin, & are
there any extra steps required for processing these ones or have any
suggestions why we are having this problem?  
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Sharon Allen
Neuropathology Lab
sallen <@t> hsc.mb.ca
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