Optimal cutting temperature (OCT) compound is used to embed tissue samples prior to
frozen sectioning on a
microtome
A microtome (from the Greek ''mikros'', meaning "small", and ''temnein'', meaning "to cut") is a cutting tool used to produce extremely thin slices of material known as ''sections'', with the process being termed microsectioning. Important in sc ...
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cryostat. This process is undertaken so as to mount slices (sections) of a sample onto slides for analysis.
Components
From MSDS:
* 5–15% polyvinyl alcohol
* 1–10% polyethylene glycol
* 75–95% non-reactive ingredients
See also
*
Microtome
A microtome (from the Greek ''mikros'', meaning "small", and ''temnein'', meaning "to cut") is a cutting tool used to produce extremely thin slices of material known as ''sections'', with the process being termed microsectioning. Important in sc ...
*
Cryostat
References
Further reading
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Histology
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