Knowledge Base › Troubleshooting Atlas › Reagents & safety
Drying artifact
Also known as: dried-out tissue, shrinkage/cracking
What it looks like
Cracked, shrunken or hyper-eosinophilic areas where the section dried during processing or staining.
Where it usually appears: Sections or specimens left exposed to air; low reagent levels.
Likely causes
- Slides allowed to dry between staining steps
- Specimen left out before fixation
- Reagent levels too low to cover the section
Immediate checks
- Keep slides immersed; never let them dry mid-run
- Top up reagent levels
- Fix specimens promptly
Corrective action
- Re-stain a fresh section handled without drying
Preventive action
- Maintain reagent levels
- Prompt fixation at grossing
- Avoid pauses that expose sections to air
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.
Unimeditrek supports histopathology laboratories with tissue processors, microtomes, staining and workflow equipment plus service and AMC. Talk to a specialist →