Microtomy Sectioning Troubleshoot

Identify common sectioning faults

12 cards   |   Total Attempts: 195
  

Cards In This Set

Front Back
Question 1
Section to Thick
  • Wrong micrometer setting
  • First section in ribbon chosen
  • Sectioning too fast
  • Poor processing
Question 2
Holes from Rough Trimming
  • Block trimmed too quickly
  • Block surface not polished by cutting some thin sections after roughing
  • Inappropriate section thickness used when trimming
  • Block brittle, over-processed, or too cold when trimmed
Question 3
Knife Lines
  • Damaged knife or blade used
  • Poor processing
  • Hard material such as calcium in block
  • Debris in unfiltered wax
  • Buffer salts precipitated in specimens
Question 4
Disruption
  • Poor processing (incomplete dehydration, clearing or infiltration)
  • Vigorous treatment to dislodge wrinkles during flotation
  • Floating out for too long or using water that is too hot
Question 5
Fine Cracks
  • Tissue over-processed
  • Block too cold
  • Cutting too fast
  • Clamping mechanism not securely locked
  • Clearance angle needs adjustment
Question 6
Coarse Chatter
  • Clamping mechanism not securely locked
  • Very hard or large specimen
  • Poor processing
  • Insufficient clearance angle
  • Sectioning too rapidly
  • Worn microtome
Question 7
Folds
  • Poor flotation technique
  • Poor fixation and/or processing (insufficient support)
  • Warm block
  • Section too thin
  • Clearance angle too great
  • Water bath too hot
Question 8
Excessive Compression
  • Poor processing (insufficient support)
  • Warm block
  • Cutting too fast
  • Dull cutting edge
  • Clearance angle too great
  • Poor quality wax
Question 9
Bubbles Under Section
  • Bubbles adhering to base and sides of flotation bath
  • Poor flotation technique trapping bubbles under section
Question 10
Over Expansion
  • Temperature of bath too high
  • Section left for too long on water
  • Poor fixation and/or processing (residual solvent)
Question 11
Section Not Flat
  • Poor quality section (wrinkles, bubbles)
  • Flotation bath too cold
  • Use of an uncoated slide
  • Section not drained thoroughly after flotation
  • Insufficient drying time
  • Drying temperature too low
Question 12
Dust Present
  • Dirty slide
  • Flotation bath not skimmed or contaminated
  • Slides drained, dried or stored in a dusty environment
  • Fragments of pencil lead from labelling