[Histonet] microtome stage

[Donna Maney]

I have a Leica SM2000 microtome, circa 2004, that has recently developed an issue with the dry ice tray. Up until this year, we've never had any problems with the specimen adhering to the platform. But suddenly we cannot cut specimens because they easily become dislodged. We use 30% sucrose to stick the specimen to the dry ice tray. When we borrow a dry ice tray from another lab, the problem goes away.

Our dry ice tray is powder coated and we can see the the coating is rubbing away, but it does not seem to be coming off with the specimen. Rotating the tray so that the specimen is attached at a different location on the platform does not help. We have cleaned the dry ice tray with hot soapy water, rinsed with distilled water and then with ethanol. 

Leica told me that the new trays do not have this powder coating, which makes me think they know about a problem, but the person I spoke to on the phone was not aware of one.

I'd be glad to hear from anyone who has experienced the same thing or who has suggestions. A new tray will cost $500-$1000 so I'd like to troubleshoot with this one to the extent that it is appropriate.

Thanks,
Donna