Re: [Histonet] Incomplete cross sections of all tissue in blocks

Steve A. McClain, MD at McClain Labs in Smithtown NY notes: >>...to avoid incomplete sectioning...: ink the specimens well, using acetic acid (vinegar) to fix the ink, thereby making the ink easier to see in the block.<< I don't like ink for this purpose, because it clutters up the microscopic

Re: [Histonet] hard Tick histology

The exoskeletons of insects are made of chitin and contain little calcium. Lysol spray contains a type of phenol which will soften chitin. The phenol is what kills bacteria, mold, and viruses by destroying their outer shells. Try spraying Lysol in a small container so you have a few mls. It will

[Histonet] hard Tick histology

Hello, I was wondering if someone might have some expertise on how to prepare a hard-tick for sectioning in paraffin. I have been decalcifying to soften the exoskeleton but not sure if that even helps. I have used acid decalcifying but would EDTA be more appropriate? I have punctured the ticks

Re: [Histonet] Cutting benchmarks

There is an extensive article in Annals of Diagnostic Pathology by Rene Buesa which is a little on the old side (2010) but still good. You can find it at www.sciencedirect.com title is Staffing benchmarks for histology laboratories. Hope this helps. Carole L