[Histonet] RE: Cutting, Processing, etc

Fri Sep 17 11:41:41 CDT 2010

My first reaction to the "what is happening to our field", was WOW.  It
seemed unkind to me, as if they original poster should not have asked these
questions.  With further reading of the replies to this post, I am not so
sure it was an unkind response, but one of potential shock and dismay to the
idea that labs  might not be producing the quality work that most of us
employ on a daily basis.

Amy, in answer to your questions, I will echo some of the sentiments that I
have read here.

1. Facing of blocks.  We use one blade to face blocks and another, new blade
when we do our actual sectioning.  In my case, I face as many as I can,
knowing I am going to toss that knife when I am done facing.

2.  Soaking of blocks.  After facing my blocks, I will put them on a cold,
damp, ice cube tray.  This will achieve two purposes for me, a) to chill the
block and b) to introduce moisture into the faced tissue.  If I get a block
that is particularly dry or hard (some calcified tissues for example), I
will face them, put them face down on my waterbath and allow the hot water
to penetrate into the tissue for 15-45 seconds, depending on the block.
After cooling on the ice tray, they usually "cut like butter" for me.
Typically, my blocks are not on the ice cubes for more than 15 minutes.  As
I cut some, I will rotate the blocks around the ice tray, adding more "warm"
blocks for cooling.

3.  Freeze spray.  I hardly ever use the freeze spray.  About the only time
I find that I need it is if I have a particularly fatty tissue and it
doesn't want to section.

4.  Tissue processor changes.  This is definitely something that is "site
specific". In our case, we do base it on volumes.  If we have a small volume
of our "little" biopsies, we might not change the machine weekly, but every
two weeks.  Generally our large specimen machine is changed weekly.

Your mileage may vary!  :o)

Michelle

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of mohamed abd
el razik
Sent: Friday, September 17, 2010 5:38 AM
To: Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: Re: [Histonet] RE: Cutting, Processing, etc

i think that histonet is a primary educational group for all levels and any
expert in our feild have asked these quistions one day befor and we should
ask freely without any shame . i'm as begainner have learned alot from these
little quistions. and i asked befor for name of antibodies and its use to be
written to clear the information for all levels and no shame for that.

--- On Thu, 9/16/10, Nails, Felton <flnails <@t> texaschildrens.org> wrote:

From: Nails, Felton <flnails <@t> texaschildrens.org>
Subject: [Histonet] RE: Cutting, Processing, etc
To: "Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu" <Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
Date: Thursday, September 16, 2010, 6:06 PM

what is happening to our field??????????????

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Senn, Amy R
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2010 10:38 AM
To: Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] Cutting, Processing, etc

Hello Histoland!

I have some questions about procedures in different histo labs and I'd like
to have some 'backup' when people look at me like I'm crazy here...

After embedding, you face (trim) your blocks, right? Do you take sections
right from that same blade, or move/change your blade?

How many of you 'soak' your blocks in water/softblock before cutting them?
Do you put them on a cold plate/use ice and water, etc? Does this depend on
the type of tissue, or do you treat them all the same?

How often is "freezy" spray used in your lab, and where and when do you use
it?

How often do you rotate/change your reagents in your processors? Do you
calculate this by how many blocks/days/weeks of use?

Thank you so much for your input!!

Amy Senn, HT

Holy Spirit Hospital, Camp Hill PA

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