First of all, freezing spray should NEVER be used in a cryostat. It produces dangerous aerosolized pathogens that linger in the air, just waiting to infect someone. There should be no exceptions. As to the ice artifact problem, not surprising to see this in brain since it is so fragile and often edematous. Your best bet to eliminate freeze artifact is to "snap freeze" the tissue using the technique used in muscle biopsy samples. A metal sample cup containing 2-Methyl Butane (Isopentane) is suspended in Liquid Nitrogen, stirring until it becomes a thickened, white slurry. The mounted tissue sample is immersed in this slurry to freeze, then placed in the cryostat to come up to cryostat temps before cutting. That is the short and sweet version, and there are many published versions of the technique. It is cumbersome, but produces no freezing artifact. Best of luck, Terri
Terri L. Braud, HT(ASCP) Anatomic Pathology Supervisor HNL Laboratories for Holy Redeemer Hospital 1648 Huntingdon Pike Meadowbrook, PA 19046 Ph: 215-938-3689 Fax: 215-938-3874 ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Fri, 16 Jul 2021 15:25:08 +0000 From: Bonello Dorianne M at Health-MDH <dorianne.m.bone...@gov.mt> To: "histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu" Subject: [Histonet] frozen section problem Dear all, We are experiencing freezing artifacts on our frozen sections. Basically, we are seeing cavity-like structures under the microscope, mostly elongated, especially when it's a frozen section on brain tissue. This is most probably happening due to ice crystal formation. We're not using cryospray, relying only on the cryobar boost function. Does anyone has a solution to this problem please Regards, Dorianne Bonello Allied Health Practitioner (MLS) Histology Laboratory - Pathology Health-Mater Dei Hospital _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
