3 reprocessing recommendations, Reprocessing recommendations, Tough, brittle, over-processed tissue – Leica Biosystems PELORIS_PELORIS II User Manual
Page 149: Gritty tissue due to calcium deposits

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Leica PELORIS™ User Manual Rev K © Leica Biosystems Melbourne Pty Ltd 2011
149
9.3 Reprocessing Recommendations
Not all problem tissue requires reprocessing. Some common problems and possible solutions are
listed below:
1. Tough, Brittle, Over-Processed Tissue
2. Gritty Tissue due to Calcium Deposits
3. Hard Shriveled Tissue – Dried Out Before Wax Infiltration
4. Hard Shriveled Tissue – Dried Out but Processed Through to Wax
5. Tissue Insufficiently Infiltrated with Wax
6. Adequately Fixed Under-processed Tissue
7. Tissue Affected by Formalin During Clearing or Wax Infiltration
8. Inadequately Fixed, Under-Processed Tissue
1. Tough, Brittle, Over-Processed Tissue
Treat the surface of the exposed tissue in the block with a rehydrating or softening agent, e.g:
Melting ice
0.2% aqueous Teepol™ or other wetting agent
Fabric softener at 5% (e.g. Downy™)
Mollifex™
9% glycerol in 60% ethanol
Treat for a few minutes, rinse, rechill and recut.
Reprocessing is inappropriate because it will cause further over-processing.
2. Gritty Tissue due to Calcium Deposits
Treat the surface of the exposed tissue in the block with decalcifying agent for 15–30 min (the time
depends on the decalcifier used). Rinse to remove acid, rechill and recut.
Reprocessing tissue that contains calcium or other mineral deposits does not improve its cutting
qualities. The calcium must be removed.
3. Hard Shriveled Tissue – Dried Out Before Wax Infiltration
Soak in a large volume of reconstitution solution. Time (2–24 hr) depends on the size and nature of
the tissue and the severity of drying. Reconstitution solutions include:
Neutral buffered formalin
Isotonic saline
Sandison’s solution
50 mL 1% aqueous formalin
30 mL 96% ethanol