Well you could try the warm agar approach: Agar Cell Block Method
Reference: Olson NJ, Gogel HK, Williams WL, et al (1986) Processing of aspiration cytology samples: an alternative method. Acta Cytol 30:409-412. Solutions: 1. 3% Agar 2. Fixative Procedure: 1. Fix material in preferred fixative 2. Heat 3% agar in a 60oC oven until molten. 3. Centrifuge specimen and decant supernatant. 4. Add 3-4 drops molten agar (dependent on size of sample), gently mix 5. Allow to cool, add fixative, remove block and process. Regards Tony Henwood JP, MSc, BAppSc, GradDipSysAnalys, CT(ASC), FFSc(RCPA) Laboratory Manager & Senior Scientist Tel: 612 9845 3306 Fax: 612 9845 3318 the children's hospital at westmead Cnr Hawkesbury Road and Hainsworth Street, Westmead Locked Bag 4001, Westmead NSW 2145, AUSTRALIA -----Original Message----- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Diana McCaig Sent: Thursday, 27 June 2013 5:02 AM To: 'histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu' Subject: [Histonet] Bone marrow blocks I sent out a request for information a while back and am going to ask again from a different approach. I am finding problems with embedding blocks of bone marrow particles with or without blood clot. Does anyone have a special technique they would like to share to concentrate the particles centrally in the block. Our current technique has the particles put in a block and then they are tamped down causing them to disperse throughout the block. Sometimes this results in the particles being located around the perimeter of the block with very little centrally positioned yielding extensive time to scan the entire slide because they are so spaced out. Do you let the sample clot or do you use anti-coagulant? Are the particles separated or are they mixed in with the blood? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated Thanks Diana _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet ********************************************************************************* This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete it and notify the sender. Views expressed in this message and any attachments are those of the individual sender, and are not necessarily the views of The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network. This note also confirms that this email message has been virus scanned and although no computer viruses were detected, The Sydney Childrens Hospital's Network accepts no liability for any consequential damage resulting from email containing computer viruses. ********************************************************************************* _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet