Knowledge Base › Troubleshooting Atlas › Tissue processing
Cross-contamination (floaters) between cases
Also known as: floaters, case contamination
Presence of unwanted tissue fragments or artifacts on the slide or block. This can obscure diagnostic features or lead to misinterpretation.
Where it usually appears: Typically observed during microscopic examination of slides or when preparing blocks for sectioning.
- Insufficient cleaning of instruments between cases
- Improper handling during embedding
- Inadequate separation of samples in processing cassettes
- Use of contaminated reagents
- Inspect instruments for residual tissue
- Review embedding techniques for potential mishandling
- Check for proper labeling and separation of cassettes
- Thoroughly clean all instruments and equipment used
- Re-embed affected samples if contamination is confirmed
- Re-evaluate processing protocols for potential improvements
- Implement strict cleaning protocols between cases
- Use dedicated instruments for each case when possible
- Train staff on proper handling and embedding techniques
This atlas is for educational purposes for laboratory professionals. It does not replace your institutional SOPs, manufacturer instructions, validated protocols or pathologist judgment. Adapt any action to your laboratory and equipment.
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