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United States Government Work, uncopyrighted, public-domain,
DRAFT COPY ONLY. This document does not necessarily represent the views
or policies of any United States Government agency.
This document is provided "as is", without warranty of any kind,
express or implied, including but not limited to the warranties
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made with the document.
See also: Frozen section policies:
24, 25,
26, 27,
86.
Maintenance policies: 39,
40, 41,
43, 44,
46, 117.
PRINCIPLE OF THE TEST.
Daily cryostat and microtome maintenance
in the frozen section area for optimal service.
SPECIMEN REQUIRED.
All fresh human tissue excised at surgery, outpatient clinics, and
postmortems, along with a filled-out
Tissue Examination Form (U. S. Standard Form 515,
USSF515).
REAGENTS, INSTRUMENTATION.
Cryostat. Staining table. Flex or acetone.
STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION.
1. Check temperature on both cryostat #1 and #2.
(Make sure noted in book for that day.)
2. Clean out Cryostat. First brush out all pieces of tissue.
Then wash with 100% alcohol.
3. Oil microtomes when needed.
4. Check knife for bad nicks.
5. Make sure slide container is full and ready for use.
6. Check Staining table: Maintain full levels on all staining table
solutions.
6.1. All water jars should be changed for next frozen section.
6.2. If solvents are dirty, change.
6.3. Filter hematoxylin and eosin when needed (will be cloudy on top).
6.4. Change hematoxylin and eosin once a month.
6.5. Xylene substitute should be changed when turns pink.
7. Knife blade holder - Clean and change blade when needed.
8. Clean cutting board and disinfect for next frozen section.
Cover board with blue pad.
9. Check and make sure there are enough folders
to put slides in after coverslipping.
10. Check mounting media: make sure media is loose and top is removable.
(Sometimes tops are left off and mounting media gets hard and thick.)
If this happens, add a drop or two of xylene substitute to loosen.
11. Wash with Backdown instrument solution all knife holders,
scissors, forceps, cutting board and around sink.
12. Check and notify Histologist of any supplies
or instruments or solutions needed for Frozen Section area.
13. Initial on maintenance log temp.
REFERENCE.
1. Prophet EB, Mills B, Arrington JB, Sobin LH.
Laboratory Methods in Histotechnology, pp. 67-70.
1992: Armed Forces Institute of Pathology,
Washington, DC. 20306-6000.
ISBN: 1-881041-00-X 1992.