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Making Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin Embedded Blocks

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Biobanking

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1897))

Abstract

Paraffin embedding is a standard technique used in clinical and research laboratories to create a formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) block of tissue. Formalin-fixed tissue undergoes tissue processing and then is embedded in paraffin (wax) to create a FFPE block or paraffin block. The paraffin block can be cut using a microtome to generate thin sections of tissue contained in paraffin to be stained or paraffin tissue ribbons suitable for nucleic acid extraction. In addition, the FFPE blocks can be stored at room temperature for years. Herein, we provide a basic knowledge, and introduce common methods of the paraffin embedding process.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Nima Sotoudeh, a graphic designer and student of animation at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Australia, for his artful illustrations used in this chapter.

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Correspondence to Alireza Sadeghipour .

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Sadeghipour, A., Babaheidarian, P. (2019). Making Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin Embedded Blocks. In: Yong, W. (eds) Biobanking. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1897. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-8935-5_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-8935-5_22

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-8933-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-8935-5

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