Tissue Preparation

What to Submit

The EM Scope

Micrograph Interpretation

Comments and Questions

Index of Sections

Introduction to Electron Microscopy

Tissue Preparation

Before you think of submitting tissue for electron microscopy you should be familiar with the forms that pertain to your EM laboratory.

Sampling Fresh Specimens

You should have the following materials available for use: a 3 cm square portion of dental wax, an applicator stick, a single sided blade and a small vial of EM fixative.

1. Cut a tapering wedge of the tumor and use the applicator stick to place it in the vial of EM fixative. Let this tissue sit in fixative for 30 minutes to one hour.
2. Use the applicator stick to remove the tapering wedge of tissue from the EM fixative and place this tissue on the dental wax.
3. With the single sided blade, slice the tissue wedge into 1 mm tissue cubes. Be sure to keep the tissue moist with a drop of EM fixative.
4. Use the applicator stick to place about 10 cubes of tissue in the EM fixative.
5. Label the EM vial containing the tissue. Complete the appropriate EM submission forms. Transport the tissue sample and the paperwork to the EM lab.