Tissue obtained for both clinical and research purposes is routinely frozen, commonly in Optimal Cutting Temperature (OCT), an embedding media, for eventual downstream analysis, commonly including sectioning on a cryostat. Though OCT is the standard compound used for freezing, there is no standard freezing protocol. Thus, current methods of handling, labeling, and storing OCT-embedded tissue vary widely, and specimens are often damaged or degraded due to undesirable temperature fluctuations during handling and freezing.
To address these issues, researchers from the NCI Laboratory of Pathology (LP) have engineered a system that employs a plastic enclosure that also functions as a tissue platen for cryosectioning, which is then enclosed with a lid for storage. This plastic enclosure also has an integrated space for labeling (written, barcode, RFID, etc.). The lid snaps closed to protect the specimen from deformation and/or thermal shock. This ‘freezing system’ is particularly unique since it is modular (i.e. designed to fit in commonly used research/clinical storage units) and affordable. Additionally, the module can be designed to work with any manufacturer’s tissue holders for cryosectioning.