Under The Microscope: Adhesion Slides

 

What are Adhesion Slides?

Adhesion slides, also known as adhesive or charged slides, are specially designed microscope slides used in histology to mount tissue sections, providing a positively charged surface providing a stronger adhesion level when compared to regular glass microscope slides.

The positively charged surface coating allows the tissue sections to adhere firmly to the slide, maintaining the structural integrity and orientation of the specimens to ensure that the tissue section remains in place and intact during the entire histological processing steps, such as staining, coverslipping, or other treatments.

 

How Do Adhesion Slides Work?

Adhesion slides are coated with a positively charged substance, often derived from polymers like poly-L-lysine or amino silane, The coating imparts a positive charge to the slide surface.

When a tissue section is placed onto an adhesion slide, the negatively charged components of the tissue, such as cell membranes or negatively charged proteins, are attracted to the positively charged slide surface. This electrostatic interaction between the positive slide coating and the negative charges of the tissue helps the specimen adhere to the slide.

 

6 Key Benefits Of Adhesion Slides 

 

01. Improved Specimen Retention

Adhesion slides provide a strong and reliable bond between the tissue sections and the slide surface. This enhanced adhesion helps prevent specimen detachment or loss during subsequent processing steps, ensuring that the specimens remain intact and properly oriented for accurate microscopic examination.

 

02. Consistent Specimen Positioning

The strong adhesion offered by these slides helps maintain the spatial arrangement and orientation of tissue sections or cells. This is particularly important for preserving the architectural context of tissues or specific cellular relationships, allowing for accurate interpretation and diagnosis.

 

03. Minimised Slide Contamination

Adhesion slides reduce the risk of tissue or cellular transfer between slides during staining and processing. By securely adhering the specimens to the slide, the potential for cross-contamination is reduced, leading to more reliable results and minimizing the need for repeat testing.

 

04. Versatility

Adhesion slides can be used for various types of specimens, including formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue sections, frozen sections, and cytology samples. Their versatility makes them suitable for a wide range of histological and cytological applications.

 

05. Compatibility With Various Staining Methods

Compatible with a wide range of staining techniques, including routine hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, immunohistochemistry (IHC), in situ hybridization (ISH), and special stains.

The positive charge of the slide surface does not interfere with these staining procedures, allowing for successful staining and the detection of specific targets.

 

06. Facilitated Handling

Helping to reduce the risk of specimen loss or damage, adhesion slides offer improved handling characteristics over regular glass slides, firmly adhering the specimen to the slide making it safer to transport the between the staining and processing steps.