#108 — What should you use to fix your cells? Alcohols or aldehydes? Gluteraldehyde or formaldehyde? And how long will your cells stay fixed?

This episode explains the four main fixatives for histology and cytometry and when to use them. It also provides some practical tips to ensure your fixation works and explains the benefits of combining fixatives.

Check out the corresponding article for links to related resources. [1] To learn more about autofluorescence and the controls you need to check for it, read this article. [2]

Resources
1. 4 Fixatives for Histology and Cytometry. Perfect Your Preservation. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/22141/fixation-and-flow-cytometry/
2. 5 Controls for Immunofluorescence: A Beginner’s Guide. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/44370/controls-for-immunofluorescence-a-beginners-guide/

#107 — Need to give your microscope a quick clean to get rid of some grime but unsure what cleaning agent to use? Have you had a nasty sample on there recently and need to disinfect it for the next user?

This episode gives you a quick guide to disinfecting your microscopes, including what solvents are safe to use and the parts you should tackle first.

Check out the corresponding article for helpful references. [1] To get a better understanding of the safety of your samples and other people's, read our introduction to safety datasheets. [2]

Resources:
1. Microscope Disinfection: A Quick Guide. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/47987/microscope-disinfection/
2. Deciphering your Materials Safety Data Sheet. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/21848/deciphering-your-materials-safety-data-sheet/

#106 — Transforming a tissue sample into a slide ready for microscopic exploration involves a series of critical steps. Among these, tissue processing is a fundamental phase bridging tissue fixation and the embedding/sectioning of paraffin blocks.

In this episode, discover what exactly happens in this vital in-between stage, and learn about the six steps that ensure your samples are ready for microscopic examination. [1]

And while you're here, check out our related articles on tissue fixation and embedding/sectioning [2,3], and the five important stages in histology slide preparation. [4]

Resources:
1. Tissue Processing For Histology: What Exactly Happens? Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/13469/tissue-processing-for-histology-what-exactly-happens/
2. An Introduction To Fixation For Histology: Think Before You Fix! Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/13401/think-before-you-fix/
3. Tissue Embedding and Sectioning: Something to Think About Whilst in the Bath. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/13414/tissue-embedding-and-sectioning-something-to-think-about-whilst-in-the-bath/
4. How Histology Slides Are Prepared. Available at: https://bitesizebio.com/13398/how-histology-slides-are-prepared/