[Histonet] Low vs. High Profile Blades

[joelle weaver]

I think this is largely personal preference, but manufacturers have marketed specific blades as being designed for certain purposes.  I like low profile for paraffin sectioning of biopsies and well processed specimens, but that is mostly because I learned to section with low profile in histology school initially doing high volume with many different tissues,  and I just learned to adjust my technique accordingly using that type of blade. I do prefer high profile in the cryostat however, but probably also because of my experiences with cryosectioning different tissues using high profile. I am not sure if there is much published science on this ( I looked once when researching paraffin composition and crystallization against blade resistance, and couldn't find much). 
I personally feel that for very hard or dense tissues there may be some advantage in stability and durability for high profile, since they are thicker ( more clamping surface) and perhaps a "tougher" less refined edge, that might be able to stay sharper longer with the greater resistance. But I have used both low & high with human bone ( decalcified or not) with roughly equal success.  I am not sure if the difference would be more substantial and noticeable with animal tissues. 




Joelle Weaver MAOM, HTL (ASCP) QIHC
 
> From: WaitT <@t> livemail.uthscsa.edu
> To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Date: Fri, 7 Mar 2014 21:22:00 +0000
> Subject: [Histonet] Low vs. High Profile Blades
> 
> Hey does anyone know the difference between a High Profile Blade vs. a Low Profile Blade when using for sectioning of Paraffin embedded tissues specimens? Which one would ya'll prefer for decalcified bone?
> 
> 
> Trevor Jordan Wait
> University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio
> Class of 2017 MD Candidate
> Abilene Christian University Class of 2013 Graduate
> B.S.  Biochemistry
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