FAQ: Possible Problems on Cryosectioning
Sectioning Problems
   
01.   What causes sections to smear or bunch-up on the knife edge?
   
  1. The specimen is too warm. Select a lower temperature (lower the temperature by 5 °C) wait for a few minutes for the temperature to stabilize and try sectioning.
  2. Either the blade or anti-roll plate is too warm. Allow the read more ...
02.   What causes sections to splinter or shatter?
   
  1. The specimen is too cold. Select a higher temperature, give specimens time to adapt to the selected cutting temperature or gently warm the specimen surface with the Delrin portion of the warm/cold block, if available.
    a) Specime read more ...
03.   How can I avoid curling of flattened sections when the anti-roll plate is picked up?
   
  1. Try to avoid air currents entering the cryochamber which can cause static electricity.
  2. The anti-roll plate is too warm; allow the anti-roll plate to stabilize at selected sectioning temperature.
04.   What can I do if the sections are not properly flattened despite the correct temperature and a correctly aligned anti-roll plate?
   
  1. The anti-roll plate and/or the knife are dirty, clean with dry cloth or brush.
  2. You might be using a dull blade, use another area of the blade or a new blade.
05.   What can I do if the sections curl and don’t go underneath the anti-roll plate?
   
  1. The anti-roll plate does not protrude far enough beyond the knife edge, re-adjust correctly.
  2. Use vacuum assisted section stretching aid.
06.   How to avoid ridged sections?
   
  1. The blade edge is damaged; use different part of the cutting edge.
  2. The edge of the anti-roll plate is damaged, replace the anti-roll plate.
07.   How to avoid chatter or Venetian blinds?
   
  1. The specimen might be improperly frozen onto the specimen disc. Remove the specimen; ensure that the disc is clean and that the grooves are cleared of any build up of cryocompound. Remount the specimen on the disc using a minimum a read more ...
08.   How to avoid thick-thin sections?
   
  1. The temperature is incorrect for the tissue to be cut. Select correct temperature.
  2. The cryocompound and specimen have become detached from disc after freezing. Remove the specimen and ensure that the disc is clean and that read more ...
09.   Why would the tissue stick or crumble on the anti-roll plate?
   
  1. The anti-roll plate is too warm or incorrectly positioned. Cool down the anti-roll plate or reposition the plate.
  2. Specimen is too warm. Select lower temperature.
  3. There is adipose tissue, other tissue fragments or d read more ...
10.   How to avoid that flattened sections curl up when the anti-roll plate is picked up?
   
  1. Static electricity or air currents: Remove static electricity.
  2. The anti-roll plate is too warm: Cool down the anti-roll plate.
11.   Why do sections tear as they are being cut?
   
  1. The blade/knife edge is blunt or there is dirt, dust, frost or rust on the edge. Remove the cause or replace the blade.
  2. The leading edge of the anti-roll plate is damaged. Replace the plate.
  3. There are hard particles read more ...
12.   What do I do if I hear a scraping noise during the sectioning and specimen return movement?
   
  1. The anti-roll plate projects too far beyond the cutting edge and is scraping on the specimen surface. Re-adjust anti-roll plate correctly.
  2. Check knife angle and increase if necessary.
  3. If there is a singing noise, th read more ...
13.   How does the anti-roll plate get damaged after it is adjusted?
   
  1. The plate is extended too far past the cutting edge.
  2. The adjustment of the plate was carried out in direction of the cutting edge with the glass on the sharp surface.
  3. If the plate is damaged, it must be replaced or read more ...
14.   Why should specimens not be stored inside the cryostat?
    The cold air inside a cryostat is very dry and will rapidly dehydrate the specimen.
  • Specimens may be stored during the day when the automatic defrost cycle is not activated but they must be covered by a layer of cryocompound or wra read more ...