[Histonet] Sections sticking to tweezers

Thu May 18 16:55:25 CDT 2023

I have followed some of this thread and I haven't heard this one point:  paraffin sticks to paraffin. No matter how dry ( I guess I've put my forceps in the waterbath) or how cold (got nothin' on that), forceps with a bit of paraffin on them could stick to your sections.
I've been retired for a while and can't figure out how to get off the histonet, but I do remember that some paraffin is stickier than others. I did eyes and bones at a veterinary school and always used a higher melting point paraffin.  A previous good point: waterbath may be too hot for your paraffin.
Hot blades? Went through a lot of ice cubes 🙂
Hope this helps!!
Happy Thursday!        Mary Lou Norman from Freeville, NY
________________________________
From: Jay Lundgren via Histonet <histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2023 3:51 PM
To: Caroline Miller <mills42 at gmail.com>
Cc: Ken M via Histonet <histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu>; Rosa, Taylor <Taylor.Rosa at crl.com>
Subject: Re: [Histonet] Sections sticking to tweezers

Forceps have to be cool and dry.   You can cool them in the ice bath, but
you have to dry them off.  If the tiniest bit wet, they will stick
to your ribbon..

Not just forceps, everything has to be cool and dry.  Your blade, your
microtome stage/ blade holder, your forceps, your slides, if any of them
are warm, you'll have trouble getting/ picking up a ribbon.  If you have a
drop of water on the back of your blade holder, your ribbon can bunch up,
 You have to dry off the face of your block before cutting it.   If you
have water on the front of your blade holder, it can fold your ribbon over
before you can get it to the water bath. If you drip water into your open
box of slides, it's best just to go home for the day.

 I've used cold spray to cool off a microtome blade/holder in a hot room.
Because a cold ribbon can hit a hot blade holder/stage and bunch up.  But
you have to wipe off the frost that forms, because... that's water.

To the Original Poster:

I think it's unprofessional to refer to a patient's specimen as a string of
snot.  I realize you're trying to be funny, but
that's potentially a life changing Cancer diagnosis you have on your
waterbath.  Keep that in mind.

We're supposed to be Medical Laboratory Professionals, and want to get paid
as such, so let's try to use professional language in professional
settings, which Histonet is.

Jay A. Lundgren, M.S., HTL (ASCP)

On Thu, May 18, 2023 at 1:48 PM Caroline Miller via Histonet <
histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu> wrote:

> Yes +1 to the chilling of the forceps, especially when you are just
> starting out. I often kept two pairs - one I was using and the other
> chilling. Also agree about turning your waterbath down a little.
>
> good luck!
> Caroline
>
> On Mon, May 8, 2023 at 6:35 AM Rosa, Taylor via Histonet <
> histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu> wrote:
>
> > Hi Ken,
> >
> > Try chilling the tips of the forceps (I usually keep mine on the ice
> bath)
> > - as long as they are cold, they shouldn't stick to the paraffin.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Taylor C. Rosa, MS
> > Research Scientist I
> > Pathology Services | Charles River
> > 4025 Stirrup Creek Drive, Suite 150, Durham, NC 27703
> > P: 919.206.7041 | F: 919.206.7001
> > taylor.rosa at crl.com | www.criver.com<http://www.criver.com>
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Paula Sicurello <patpxs at gmail.com>
> > Sent: 06-May-2023 10:57 PM
> > To: Ken M <kdean70 at hotmail.com>; Ken M via Histonet <
> > histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
> > Subject: Re: [Histonet] Sections sticking to tweezers
> >
> > Hi Ken,
> > A few questions:
> > 1. What is the melting point of the paraffin you use?  2. Is there a
> > specific reason the temperature of your water bath is 38.5 degrees?  3.
> Do
> > your forceps have any type of imperfections? Bumpy, or ridged? Something
> > that could snag on the sections?
> > If there isn't a specific reason for the water bath temperature to be
> that
> > low (cutting brain sections), I'm thinking that is playing a large part
> in
> > your sticky sections.
> > It is common to have the water bath 5 - 10 degrees below the melting
> point
> > of the wax. It helps the sections stretch out from the compression that
> > happens when being cut.
> > Let's see what others have to say about your sticky situation.
> > Paula Sicurello
> > On Sat, May 6, 2023 at 8:27 AM, Ken M via Histonet<
> > histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu> wrote:Can anyone tell me why my
> > sections are sticking to my tweezers and turning into one long string of
> > snot when I try to separate them? I have a good pair of curved stainless
> > tweezers and I am trying both the front and the back and tapping sharply
> > while allowing the tweezers to open at the separation point. I can
> separate
> > one or two, then it sticks and pulls up 7 or 8 sections into one long
> slimy
> > string. My water bath is set at 38.5 and I am sectioning at 4-5 m. Even
> > when I go to 6 it still does it. Any ideas?
> > Ken_______________________________________________Histonet mailing
> > listHistonet at lists.utsouthwestern.eduhttp://
> > lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
> >
> > Paula Sicurello
> >
> >   On Sat, May 6, 2023 at 8:27 AM, Ken M via Histonet<
> > histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu> wrote:   Can anyone tell me why my
> > sections are sticking to my tweezers and turning into one long string of
> > snot when I try to separate them? I have a good pair of curved stainless
> > tweezers and I am trying both the front and the back and tapping sharply
> > while allowing the tweezers to open at the separation point. I can
> separate
> > one or two, then it sticks and pulls up 7 or 8 sections into one long
> slimy
> > string. My water bath is set at 38.5 and I am sectioning at 4-5 m. Even
> > when I go to 6 it still does it. Any ideas?
> >
> > Ken
> > _______________________________________________
> > Histonet mailing list
> > Histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> > http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
>
>
> --
> Caroline Miller, M.Sc
> Histology, Imaging, and Image Analysis Specialist
> 415 2187297
> https://www.linkedin.com/in/mills42/
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