How to test unknown strengths of alcohol?
Float an alcoholmeter in the solution
How to remedy improperly fixed tissue blocks?
deparaffinized
remove paraffin
How to soften tissues?
soak in detergent + water
Broken slides
soak with xylene and remove coverslip → remount
opaque tissue
reclear
airholes
re-impregnate
torn and crumbly sections
remove paraffin → redehydrate → clear → embed
deformalinize tissue section
refix formalin with other fixative → deparaffinize in ammonia water
reclaming tissue on wrong solution
place in cold tap water
cutting blood-containing tissues
- soak in tap water
- soak in glycerin + 60% alcohol
collodionization
keeping section from float-off
deparaffinize with xylene and absolute alcohol
shrinkage
repeat whole procedure
crystalline wax
re-embed
unequal thickness
reduce knife tilt
improperly dehydrated tissue blocks
remove paraffin → rehydrate → re-embed
retaining slides
place in xylene
removing folds of pleated paraffin sections
use 50% alcohol
compressed, wrinkled, or jammed sections
re-sharpen the knife
moist and crumbly paraffin block
re-impregnate → re-embed
horizontal/parallel lines or furrows across section
treat with phenol or collodionize → reduce knife tilt
