Preparing Frozen Tissue Sections for Staining

Abstract

Cell-staining studies on mammalian tissue are often performed on frozen sections. This is the gentlest method for the preparation of samples and gives good preservation of cell structure and antigens. Its principal disadvantages are that the specimens must be stored frozen and a special microtome, known as a cryostat, is required. In addition, many clinical specimens are not available in this form, and most classical histological descriptions of tissue structure and pathology are based on the use of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) material.