Knowledge Base › Troubleshooting Atlas › Floatation & mounting
Tissue lifting / detaching during staining
Also known as: sections floating off, tissue washed off
What it looks like
Sections partly or fully detach from the slide during staining or washing steps.
Where it usually appears: Fatty/bloody tissue, brain, bone, or under-dried slides.
Likely causes
- Slides not adhesive/charged or inadequately coated
- Sections not dried/baked long enough
- Water-bath temperature too high (partial melting weakens adhesion)
- Difficult tissue types (fatty, brain, bone, blood clot)
Immediate checks
- Use charged/adhesive (e.g., silane/poly-L-lysine) slides for difficult tissue
- Increase drying/baking time and temperature within limits
- Confirm the floatation bath is not overheated
Corrective action
- Re-cut onto adhesive slides and dry adequately before staining
- Extend oven drying for fatty or bony tissue
Preventive action
- Standardise slide type and drying protocol
- Use adhesive slides for IHC and difficult tissue
- Validate oven and bath temperatures
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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