[Histonet] RE: streaking when cutting

[Rene J Buesa]

It is probably debris in the paraffin, now if that is the problem why it appears in only 1 or 2 "microtomes"? Because not everybody cuts in the same way, at the same speed and with the same thickness after preparing the block in the same way.
These peculiarities in the way you and the other tech section may cause that you both have the streaks and not the other techs.
In order to find out if the streaking is due to sectioning personal ways, try to cut a block other tech has cut without complaining about streaks to see if the streaks appear when you cut.
Also, if it is caused by debris, the debris will be at the bottom of the block and can be removed during the initial steps until you reach the tissue. If this step is deeper in other techs that what you use to do, they may not experience the problem while you still do.
René J.

From: "Bartlett, Jeanine (CDC/OID/NCEZID)" <jqb7 <@t> cdc.gov>
To: Clare Thornton <CThornton <@t> dahlchase.com>; "histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu" <histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu> 
Sent: Monday, February 25, 2013 10:31 AM
Subject: [Histonet] RE: streaking when cutting

Is the back of the blade holder clear of paraffin debris as well as the blade?

Jeanine H. Bartlett
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Infectious Diseases Pathology Branch
404-639-3590
jeanine.bartlett <@t> cdc.hhs.gov

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Clare Thornton
Sent: Monday, February 25, 2013 10:24 AM
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] streaking when cutting

We've had one tech complaining of streaks when cutting, across the paraffin.  It's noticeable when cutting, although not clearly noticeable microscopically.  This tech has tried everything, tightening and re-tightening of microtome parts, trying other people's chucks or blade holders, new blades, new lots of blades...everything we can think of. It doesn't appear to be the microtome.  Last week, I noticed the same streaking occuring on my sections.  No one else (we have 9 microtomes total) has complained of this issue.  Could this be a paraffin problem?  The streaks look like when you might have a bit of paraffin debris on your blade and cut a new section; however, this is occuring with brand new blades, almost every block.  Any ideas?  Thank you.


Clare J. Thornton, HTL(ASCP)QIHC
Assistant Histology Supervisor
Dahl-Chase Diagnostic Services
417 State Street, Suite 540
Bangor, ME 04401
cthornton <@t> dahlchase.com


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