[Histonet] How to store paraffin blocks ?

[Sherwood, Margaret]

We are a research group, but had paraffin blocks stored at room temperature for
20+ years.  We finally made the decision to just keep 2 years in the lab and
store 5 years off-site.  We trashed the rest.

Peggy 


Peggy Sherwood
Lab Associate, Photopathology
Wellman Center for Photomedicine (EDR 214)
Massachusetts General Hospital
50 Blossom Street
Boston, MA 02114-2696
617-724-4839 (voice mail)
617-726-6983 (lab)
617-726-1206 (fax)
msherwood <@t> partners.org

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Rene J Buesa
Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 10:20 AM
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Itai Moshe
Subject: Re: [Histonet] How to store paraffin blocks ?

The usual procedure is to store at room temperature. It is assumed that the room
is air conditioned, otherwise if the temp is above 80ºF some blocks may stick
together, although that is not a real problem.
If at 4ºC you will need a refrigerated room or a series of refrigerators, which
is an additional and unnecessary expenditure.
We use to store the blocks for 9 years, unless it is a special case (used in
teaching) and those are stored forever.
Supposedly you use the slides for some procedure and those cut as "extras" are
kept along with the originals stained in the same files.
If you are referring to sections for IHC or other procedure, the epitopes will
be oxidized by the oxygen in the air in less than 2 weeks, so they can either be
stored in a fridge, or covered with melted paraffin, or stored in mineral oil.
René J.

--- On Tue, 9/20/11, Itai Moshe <itai.moshe <@t> mail.huji.ac.il> wrote:


From: Itai Moshe <itai.moshe <@t> mail.huji.ac.il>
Subject: [Histonet] How to store paraffin blocks ?
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Date: Tuesday, September 20, 2011, 2:23 AM


Hi Histonet's,

What is the recommended way to store paraffin blocks for a long period ?
Room temperature, or 4C ?

The advantage in storing at 4C is that the blocks are always ready for
sectioning.
Is there a risk when storing at 4C that the humidity in the fridge will
cause damage to the paraffin blocks and the tissue ?
After sectioning, How do you store the slides, and for how long ?


Thank's
Itai Moshe
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