We have heat extractors as well the Peltier cooling element on our
units..there's no reason to use quick freeze spray.  After observing
them for a day I'm more convinced that it's their technique.  Retraining
is starting TODAY!

Thanks to everyone!

>>>  01/31/02 10:22PM >>>
Peggy Wenk notes:

>>The reason pathologists/residents like to use [freezing sprays] is
because 
they are in a hurry, and it takes 5 minutes to freeze tissue on the
cryobar 
in the cryostat, if there is no "heat extractor" arm that can help to
freeze 
it from the top down. - So if you have a piece of equipment that allows
for 
fast freezing, so they can be sectioning sooner, they'll stop using the

cryospray. - We use the Histobath... It electrically cools the
isopentane... 
Our pathologists like it a lot, and the cryogenic spray has [almost] 
disappeared from the frozen section rooms...<<

One thing I don't understand here: isopentane (2-methylbutane) is a
frightful 
fire and explosion hazard. How can you use it in a surgical suite?

Bob Richmond 
Samurai Pathologist
Knoxville TN