[Histonet] [External] safe tools for removal of specimens from cryostat chuck

[Dessasau, Evan D.]

Hi Beth, I saw an image of someone holding their chuck/sample against a heat sink.  I tried it and wrote the following.
If you have the "disk type " chucks like with the Epredia cryostats

  1.
keep a heat sink at room temp(This is not the same heat sink you use to chill your blocks)
  2.
protect the cut surface of the OCT block with a thin layer of OCT, allow to harden
  3.
place the heat sink on the back of the chuck and hold for a few seconds
  4.
apply pressure on your block as if to slide it off the chuck, as soon as you feel the give, the block should slide off the chuck.
  5.
immediately return the sample/OCT block to your cryostat chamber
  6.
Keep heat sink at room temp
A little water works great also if you have chucks with stems.



Thank you,

E-van

////////

Emory Univ.

EPC

Histology 2122A

954 Gatewood Rd.,

Atlanta,Ga. 30329

404-727-7744(on campus 7-7744) Lab



________________________________
From: Villarreal, Beth via Histonet <histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
Sent: Friday, May 22, 2026 8:09 AM
To: histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu <histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
Subject: [External] [Histonet] safe tools for removal of specimens from cryostat chuck

Hello Histonetters,
We're reviewing our safety protocols, and I'm wondering what others use to remove OCT blocks from the chuck in cryosectioning.  Are there any new tools out there?

Thanks!
Beth Villarreal
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