Paraffin Tissue Microarrays Kit F

EMS Catalog #69130-45 and 69130-46

Introduction

Paraffin tissue microarrays (TMAs) are becoming more common in the laboratories. Current techniques including organizing, punching, and inserting tissues is time consuming and involving costly equipments. This mold is the simple tool but great answer for this current technique for laboratories to perform TMAs with less time consuming, excellent results.

It can be used for paraffin and frozen tissue microarrays. Create your own OCT/paraffin - TMA block, then with a single dermal needle (sterile or non-sterile), punch your fresh frozen or paraffin tissue and insert into the block.

With this mold, you can process up to 150 specimens onto one single slide with very little time consuming, minimal technical training.

Kit Contents

The Arraymold Kit F generates 3mm diameter sample core and 35 cores per mold.
Kit consists of:

• 10 - Disposable 3mm sterile dermal needles
• 2 - Stylets (used to remove sample from needle)
• 1 - aluminum Plate (for setting cryoarray punches)
• 1 - 3mm reusable rubber mold, 35 cores

Product Highlights

The rubber mold is reusable, remaining flexible over many uses and also allows for:

• Paraffin or frozen arrays
• View many different samples on the same single slide
• Ease in finding IHC markers for control/quality assurance from hundreds of samples
• Combining negative and positive controls onto one slide
• More consistent staining markers (since hundreds of samples are on one slide)
• Less amount of costly antibody
• Producing up to 40 molds from one array mold (if handled carefully)

Cautions

• Does not work with Richard Allen Type 3 and Type 5 paraffin.
• Always punch paraffin TMA block at room temperature.
• Never push the dermal needle into a TMA block.
• Never snap freeze the mold, as liquid nitrogen or other frozen baths will destroy the mold.
• Never leave the mold in hot paraffin for more than 10 minutes.

Preparing Array Block for Cutting

Following these steps will help you set the punches in your paraffin block and create a flat surface for cutting.
(Note: If not using all the array, just fill the empty area with paraffin.) After punching is complete:

1. Set the block on an uncharged slide (face down), in an oven at 37°C to 40°C overnight. Note: The next morning, the block should be tacky and possibly stuck to slide. Do not pull slide and array block apart.
2. With Array block still warm and tacky, heat another slide in an oven to about 70°C for, approximately 10 minutes.
3. Take this separate, hot slide and place under slide stuck to array block. Note: The array block surface should turn to liquid quickly.
4. Move the two slides around on the array block to push any surface air bubbles away and to flatten array block surface.
5. Remove second slide and place array block with original slide (slide down) to cool on a room temperature counter top for 10 minutes.
6. Once array block is room temperature, place block and slide on an ice tray (no water) to cool for 20 minutes.
7. Slide should remove easily from block and it now be ready to cut.

Recommendations

Storage

When not in use, store array mold in its box, in a dark, dry place such as a drawer. Keep it away from chemicals and light.

Optional Temperature Conditions

The array mold is optimal at -10°C to -30°C. Do not snap freeze the mold in liquid nitrogen or other type of frozen chemical bath, as this will crack/damage it. Freezing the mold voids any warranty. The array mold is designed to use in a cryostat as well as for paraffin molding. To prolong the life of the mold, pull the embedding medium out carefully.

Recommended Paraffin for TMA Construction

Paraplast Xtra, Catalog #19214 (1kg) or Catalog #19215 (8kg) Note: The tissue may be processed in your usual paraffin, this is just for making the TMA blocks. Please test other paraffins for your desired applications before using.
Note: DOES NOT work with Richard Allen Type 3 and Type 5 paraffin.

Damage to the Array Mold

Minimal damage to the mold, such as losing a few rubber rods or cracks or splits in the mold may not necessarily make the mold totally unusable. Always be careful and gentle when pulling paraffin out of the mold. If the mold splits, it is sometimes possible to put a rubber band or tape it back together.

Dermal Needles/Biopsy Punches

All needle brands are slightly different in size. We recommend EMS catalog #6903-Series biopsy punches and stylers. Note: If experiencing difficulty when in pushing the stylet into the dermal needle, do this before using the needle: gently push and twist the stylet down the needle before beginning an array. Once the stylet is through the needle, push it in and out several times.

Using Cryo Array Punches

Be sure the punches are set into the embedding medium. Do this by melting the surface of the cryo array block on a metal plate and freeze it, again, before sectioning it in a cryostat. This step may need to be repeated if going deeper into the cryo array block.

Core Depth

The 2mm 60 core array mold is 7mm. The 1.5mm 150 core is 4mm deep. The 1.5mm core depth is not as deep as the 2mm is that since the 1.5mm cores are thinner, the shortened depth cores strengthens the rods and they last longer. Judging core depth: Use a marking pen and mark the needle to the maximum depth and stay within this distance. This is especially important when punching with the 1.5mm array mold needle.

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Paraffin Tissue Microarrays Kit F