I routinely "flick" my wrist holding the slide with the section I've just picked up. Usually, this is enough force to release any water at the bottom of the section. If that doesn't work I melt a tiny hole at the bottom of the section with a heated probe and flick again. I'm sure the manufacturer is right in saying that its the coating; the paraffin adheres too well and too quickly to the slide trapping water underneath. It is also very important to hold your slides as vertically as possible when bringing them under your section and raising the slide out of the water bath. That way you will trap as little water as possible underneath.
Hope this helps. >From one long-time-microtomist to another, Linda A. Sebree University of Wisconsin Hospital & Clinics IHC/ISH Laboratory DB1-223 VAH 600 Highland Ave. Madison, WI 53792 (608)265-6596 -----Original Message----- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of nap...@mail.siscom.net Sent: Friday, July 23, 2010 1:04 PM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Water collecting at bottom of sections Hello all, >From time to time and depending on what brand of adhesive (or charged) slides I am using, I seem to get a "bag" of water that drains to the bottom of my sections but doesn't drain "out". I have been working in microtomy a long time and have had to deal with this contingency time and time again, but never really have gotten to the bottom of the problem. I spoke with a premium manufacturer of such slides and they seemed to indicate that it is a problem with the coating, but couldn't tell me for sure. All I know is that certain brands do this more than others. If you know what I mean, you know it is a problem. My bath is pure distilled H2O with no gelatin or Sta-on added. It is if the adhesive properties are SO good that they will not release the water when vertically drained and have to be shaken off or cut with a razor blade at bottom to release the water. Anyway, if anyone has an insight or two on this, I would be interested. It seem sthe most challenging issues are ones that seem related to some of the most simple tasks that one has performed for many years!! Manufacturers understand what I mean, but cannot pinpoint the problem for me via phone or e-mail. Anyone see this and have a chemical/mechanical solution they have developed over the years? Thanks! _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet