Adhesion slides for microscopy

Adhesion slides

In most cases paraffin sections stick to the slides without aids and are not detached from the slide during the staining process.
Modern techniques such as immunohistology or antibody staining are carried out under extreme conditions, which can detach the paraffin sections from the slide. (e.g. treatment with highly alkaline solutions (> pH 8))

Especially for very valuable sample material, or the use of very expensive tests, are such losses a major problem.

So-called adhesives avoid such detachments. These adhesives are applicated by coated slides.

Classic alternatives are self-made coatings (glycoproteins such as protein glycerol (albumine) or gelatine). Alternatively commercially available adhesive slides are used. ^[1] The high sample throughput and the time pressure in modern economy lead to more and more rationalization, so the self-coating is no longer state of the art.

Modern biological methods for the detection of nucleic acids (RNA or DNA) in tissues, individual cells or metaphase chromosomes ^[2] or in-situ PCR ^[3] and microarray ^[4] require specific adherent slide surfaces. The procedures expose the tissue sections to elevated temperatures and repeated washes. Therefore the bonding of tissue to the glass surface is reduced.

The adhesives have to be free of autofluorescence or disturbing background effects.