In a recent Histology Professionals Facebook post, a group member asked the question, “What is something that you wish you would’ve been taught at the beginning of your histology career?”
Several thread participants shared their tips for using dish soap to help with fatty sections. To keep fatty sections from blowing up in your water bath, rub a bit of Dawn-type dishwashing liquid between your fingers and tap the area where you will place your section on the soap-treated finger. The viscosity of the soap will help hold the section together long enough to pick up the section.
Another tip shared was that a bit of reagent alcohol in your water bath would also work, or to place an ice cube in your water bath, then lay your section next to the ice cube. A few swipes with a Kim Wipe will return your water bath “back to normal.”
Adding a drop of Dawn changes the surface tension on your water bath for cutting unfixed tissue so that it doesn’t blow out.
One poster shared that she keeps a little travel shampoo/conditioner bottle of Dawn soap at her station and puts a tiny drop in her water bath. It works great every time.
Written by Sharon H. Kneebone, FASAE, CAE, based on comments asked in the “What is something that you wish you would’ve been taught at the beginning of your histology career?” in the Histology Professionals Group on Facebook