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TISSUE BLOCK STORAGE CABINET
\nWhen patients have tissue removed at an outpatient surgery center or hospital, their tissue is sent to pathology labs for storage. Their tissue is processed, examined, diagnosed, and stored at the pathology labs. During the storage process, lab technicians require easy access solutions to store the tissue, like using a cassette, microscope slide, paraffin block storage box or cabinet.
\nOne complication with tissue block storage is the ever-shrinking space to store tissues. Cassette, microscope slide, or paraffin block storage have relatively low activity rates, so high-density shelves are necessary to maximize tissue storage and floor space.
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Tissue Preperation
\nBefore a physician can examine the tissue for diagnosis, it must first be prepped and turned into microscope slides for easy viewing.
\nTissue Fixation
\nTissue fixation is the first step in preparing the tissue for a microscope slide. The purpose of this step is to prevent tissue degradation. Immediately after the tissue is collected, it should be transferred into a fixative such as formalin. Other options are available, but most tissue specimens are fixed in a 10% neutral buffered formalin. After 24-48 hours, the tissue will be fixed and ready for the next step.
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Specimen Transfer to Cassettes
\nOnce the tissue has been fixed, it is then trimmed using a scalpel and fit into a labeled tissue cassette. A tissue cassette is a disposable plastic structure that is used to hold tissue samples. The cassettes fit in microtome chuck adapters and are designed to keep specimens safe during processing.
\nTissue Processing
\nThe first phase of tissue processing involves dehydration, in which the tissue is immersed in increasing concentrations of alcohol so that water and formalin can be removed. Next, the tissue is rinsed in an organic solvent to remove the alcohol and prepare the tissue for the embedding phase. During the embedding phase, the tissue specimen is covered in molten paraffin wax to create a formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) block. Once the block has solidified, the block is ready for sectioning.
\nSectioning
\nWax is removed from the surface of the block to expose the tissue, which is then chilled for 10 minutes. A microtome is used to create thin tissue slices, which are carefully transferred to a warm water bath. Next, they are placed on a slide under the water level. Slides are then placed upright and allowed to dry at 37℃ for a few hours to allow the excess paraffin wax to melt.
\nStaining
\nStaining is used to allow transparent cells to be easily viewed. A coverslip is then mounted over the tissue specimen and carefully glued down.
\nOnce tissues are acquired, samples are carefully handled and stored to maintain quality. Failure to properly place tissue samples in storage may cause cell degradation, which alters research results. Preparation for storage usually depends on specific requirements, including tissue size, cut, or purpose. A medical pathologist ensures that the sample is placed in storage throughout preparation to ensure quality remains intact.
\nIf a sample study is completed, the tissue is placed in a storage bank as a cassette, slide, or block. Records, including donor information, consent forms, and when the tissue was collected, are kept in case research teams need to access the tissue sample again.
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