[Histonet] microtome blades and wax

[P Sicurello]

Hi Jessica,

Happy Friday. 

Do you use the same EM-400 paraffin for processing?  If you use different paraffins that might contribute to your sectioning problems.   

If the waxes are different the tissue and the rest of the block are not one continuous unit in the "eyes" of the knife. The waxes have different properties so they cut differently because the embedding wax does not infiltrate into the tissue but wraps around it like a blanket.  

I'm not sure if that's what your lab does but if it is I suggest using the same paraffin for processing and embedding. 

Sincerely,

Paula Sicurello

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jan 14, 2022, at 5:43 AM, Piche, Jessica via Histonet <histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu> wrote:
> 
> Good Morning,
> 
> We have been using Leica Histocore Autocut microtomes for a few months and have been having inconsistency with cutting on them. We have tried so many different blades, high and low, and have tried changing the blade angle. Nothing is a perfect fix, and we feel like we are really having to work much harder to get a great section. We were wondering what everyone else uses. I was also wondering if the wax could be an issue. We use EM-400 for embedding. I'd appreciate anyone's thoughts.
> 
> Thank you and have a nice weekend!
> 
> Jessica
> 
> Jessica Piche, HT(ASCP)
> Waterbury Hospital Histology Laboratory
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