Crystal/Mount - 30 ml
Description:
Crystal/Mount is the standard water-based mounting medium for immunohistology. It is designed especially for the permanent preservation of immunoperoxidase and immunoalkaline phosphatase stained tissue sections. It is easy to use and exhibits excellent optical characteristics.
Application:
Crystal/Mount is the first aqueous mounting medium that permits the long-term storage of antigens localized with organic solvent-soluble chromogens such as the horseradish peroxidase chromogens: 3-amino, 9-ethylcarbazole (AEC), and 4-chloro-1-naphthol, the alkaline phosphatase binary chromogens: 5-bromo, 4-chloro, 3-indolylphosphate/iodonitrotetrazolium (BCIP/INT), 5-bromo, 4-chloro, 3-indolylphosphate/nitro-bluetetrazolium (BCIP/NBT) and Naphthol AS-MX phosphate/Fast Red TR salt. These chromogens exhibit enhanced contrast and reproducibility, and maintain their original clarity and color intensity when properly mounted in Crystal/Mount.
Crystal/Mount can also be used with tissue sections stained with chromogens that are insoluble in organic solvents, such as the horseradish peroxidase chromogen diaminobenzidine (DAB). Tissue sections stained with DAB can be mounted immediately from water, thereby eliminating the time and reagent expense required for dehydrating and clearing the slides in xylene.
Crystal/Mount is not compatible with eosin and should not be used for H&E; staining.
Presentation:
In summary, the advantages of Crystal/Mount are as follows:
-It produces permanently mounted specimens.
-It is a universal mounting medium.
-It products superior specimens.
-It is cost effective.
-It does not need coverslips.
Storage:
Store at room temperature.
Technical Information:
- Max. section thickness recommended: 5-8 microns. Thicker sections will produce air pockets.
- Must mount while tissue is still wet, otherwise air bubbles can form.
- Refractive index of Crystal/Mount: 1.354+-0.002 due to batch variance.
Notes:
Step by Step Instructions: Before using this product, remove the red cap covering the tip of the bottle and cut off the tip of the nozzle using a sharp blade or scissors. Place the bottle of Crystal/Mount upside down in a cup or bottle. This eliminates the introduction of air bubbles into the medium.
1. Place all slides to be mounted on a horizontal surface and apply three drops of Crystal/Mount to the tissue sections.
FOR IN VITRO USE ONLY
2. Rotate the slides covered by the Crystal/Mount so that is spreads to cover an area approximately the size of a quarter. Do not apply a coverslip on top of the Crystal/Mount.
3. Place the slides horizontally in an oven set at 40-50°C for at least 30 minutes, or 20-37° for 1-2 hours.
4. Remove the slides from the oven and allow them to reach room temperature. The slides are now ready for microscopic visualization.
Please note: Microscopic air bubbles may be found after applying Crystal/Mount on particular tissue sections, especially on gastrointestinal sections or necrotic areas on the sections. Slow drying of mounting medium at room temperature may help to eliminate this occurrence.
Post-Mounting Crystal/Mount with Permount*:
The hardened Crystal/Mount polymer forms an impervious barrier to organic solvent-based mounting media, such as Permount. The hardened polymer in Crystal/Mount has a refractive index very close to that of Permount. Because of these unique features, slides with hardened Crystal/Mount can be post-mounted and cover-slipped in Permount. In order to do this, simply place three drops of Permount on top of the hardened Crystal/Mount and apply a coverslip on top. Allow the slides to dry at room temperature. Do not heat slides after the application of Permount.
Using Crystal/Mount with Fluorescent Specimens:
Crystal/Mount is compatible with fluorescein, rhodamine, Texas Red and FluoroBlue stained specimens. When using these dyes, follow the procedure described above except, bake at 60-70°C for 20 minutes. Do not use Crystal/Mount with specimens stained with Phycoerythrin, Phycocyanin or Allophycocyanin. Cystral/Mount is not compatible with the following counterstains: Nuclear Fast Red, BC-50, or Light Green. It is also not compatible with tetramethylbenzidine (TMB).
Removal of Crystal/Mount:
When required, solidified Crystal/Mount may be partially or completely removed only if the slides have not been postmounted with Permount. Immerse slides in distilled water and occasionally agitate the slides to assist in the removal of the Crystal/Mount layer. Use gentle agitation to avoid the detachment of the tissue sections from the glass. Repeat this procedure until the film of Crystal/Mount is removed. If extended overnight incubations are required, add sodium azide to a concentration of 0.05% to avoid bacterial growth. Excessive soaking in water may also result in the detachment of the tissue sections from the glass slides. Following the removal of the Crystal/Mount, treat the tissue sections with a buffer compatible with the staining procedure intended to be used. Failure to re-stain the slides should not be considered as negative staining since incomplete removal of Crystal/Mount may interfere with some staining procedures.
Statement in Lieu of MSDS Requirement:
Crystal/Mount, a product of Biømeda Corp., sold under catalog numbers M02 and M03, does not require an MSDS sheet since it does not contain any chemical considered to be carcinogenic or hazardous. Sodium azide is the only chemical present in Crystal/Mount which has a toxic nature, however, it is present at a concentration below 0.05%.
FOR IN VITRO USE ONLY
Material Safety Data:
Since Crystal/Mount is a laboratory reagent, we advise that it should be handled following good laboratory practices. As part of good industrial and personal hygiene, and as a safety procedure, avoid all unnecessary exposure to Crystal/Mount and ensure prompt removal from skin and clothing.
* Do not use oil directly on top of dried crystal mount.
References:
Crystal/Mount immunocytochemical applications were developed in collaboration with David Brigati, M.D., Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma.