It’s in the details: Tracking Tissue Morphology

With thousands of OCT tissue samples stored over the last 10 years we have mastered our record keeping capabilities which provide information about OCT blocks as they move in and out of the freezers and information regarding the consumption of the OCT tissue specimens for our internal research activities (sample usage).  Throughout the years we have learned that tracking tissue morphology is critical because we are able to determine when an OCT block is no longer useful for research. With every slice of the frozen OCT tissue block, the morphology changes and it is important to know when this block is no longer a representation of the original material that was deposited in the tissue bank.

So, the first step in this Morphology Tracking process is to cut each OCT block, stain, date and archive each stained H&E slide as it arrives in the tissue bank.  When the sample is selected for research the archived H&E slide is pulled and reviewed by a designated pathologist and areas of interested annotated.  The sample is then used for research and a second H&E section is made after all the sections for research have been obtained.  This second H&E is reviewed to insure that all areas of interest for research still remain and the tissue morphology has not changed (from its original format) due to cutting deeper into the OCT tissue block. Detailed notes are made throughout these processes, which include notes on changes observed in tumor size which may indicate that the tumor is near exhaustion.  This process is repeated each time the sample is used for research and when the section fails to be a true representation of the original OCT block, the block is marked as “exhausted” and it is no longer available for research. 

What makes us “Tick?”

In any given establishment, many factors contribute to its success and well-being. In our tissue bank, one such factor that makes us “tick” is our staff. We strongly believe that we are where we are today due to the dedication and commitment of those who run the day-to-day activities of our tissue bank. We have been fortunate that over the past 10 operating years that our staff turnover has been very minimal, allowing most of us to witness the tissue bank grow and mature from the ground up. We have all learned through experience and enjoy the benefits of our hard work and dedication. While there are multiple units in the tissue bank, most staff members are cross-trained to handle multiple activities, allowing us to function efficiently.  Our staff is required to take the National Cancer Institutes (NCI) course on “Protecting Human Research Participants” so that we fully understand the rules and regulations governing the use of human subjects for research. We have a very personal attachment to our jobs. We recognize the patients' contributions and protect our specimens to ensure there is no wastage and that every single biospecimen is used to its fullest potential. We understand the mantra “garbage in garbage out” and we are committed to providing researchers with the highest grade quality biospecimens. This quality results in research that can be translated into the clinic. Through our long-term experience in tissue banking, our staff has grown into a highly skilled team that “ticks” like a well-oiled precision timepiece.