The fundamental difference between a cryostat microtome and a routine microtome lies in the temperature at which they operate and the type of samples they process. A standard microtome sections specimens at room temperature, while a cryostat machine is specifically designed to cut thin slices from frozen tissue.
Sample Preparation and Embedding
For a routine microtome, tissue is prepared through a lengthy process of dehydration and infiltration with paraffin wax, which provides support for sectioning. A cryostat microtome eliminates this need. Fresh tissue is rapidly frozen and embedded in a special medium, solidifying it for cutting without chemical processing. This freezing step is what defines the cryostat machine environment.
The Operating Environment
A standard microtome is an open instrument used on a lab bench. In contrast, the blade, specimen head, and chamber of a cryostat microtome are contained within a refrigerated cabinet, maintaining a constant temperature, typically between -15°C and -30°C. This cold chamber prevents the tissue from thawing and becoming soft during the sectioning process.
Application and Speed
The paraffin method used with routine microtomes is ideal for preserving fine cellular detail for long-term archival. However, the cryostat machine offers a significant advantage in speed. It allows for the rapid preparation of sections from fresh, unfixed tissue, which is essential for procedures like intraoperative diagnosis where a result is needed within minutes.
The choice between instruments depends on the research or diagnostic goal. For rapid results and enzyme activity studies, a cryostat microtome is necessary. BPLabLine provides these specialized cryostat machine systems to support laboratories that require efficient frozen sectioning capabilities for their histological work.
