Cassettes

• Specimen Containment: Cassettes are designed to securely hold tissue specimens during processing to prevent loss or damage. They come in various sizes and are equipped with lids or covers to ensure that specimens remain contained and protected throughout the handling and processing stages.

• Identification and Tracking: Cassettes often have labeling areas where essential information about the specimen, such as patient identification, specimen type, and accession number, can be written or printed. This labeling enables accurate identification and tracking of specimens throughout the pathology workflow, from collection to diagnosis.

• Compatibility with Processing Equipment: Cassettes are designed to be compatible with automated tissue processing equipment commonly used in pathology laboratories. They can be easily loaded into tissue processors, embedding machines, and microtomes, allowing for efficient and standardized specimen processing and sectioning.

• Tissue Processing: Cassettes facilitate the immersion of tissue specimens in various reagents during tissue processing, such as fixation, dehydration, clearing, and infiltration with embedding medium. The cassette's porous structure allows fluids to penetrate the tissue while maintaining specimen integrity.

• Embedding: After processing, tissue specimens are embedded in paraffin wax to facilitate sectioning and microscopic examination. Cassettes provide a convenient platform for embedding by holding the tissue specimens securely in place while the molten wax solidifies around them.

• Sectioning: Once embedded, tissue blocks within cassettes can be mounted onto microtome chucks for sectioning. The cassette's design allows for precise orientation and positioning of tissue blocks to ensure consistent and accurate sectioning of specimens for histological analysis.

Overall, the sole purpose of cassettes in pathology is to provide a standardized, secure, and organized method for handling, processing, embedding, and sectioning tissue specimens, ultimately facilitating accurate diagnosis and patient care.

View main equipment details:

Grossing station || Cryotome