Why should specimens not be stored inside the cryostat?
The cold air inside a cryostat is very dry and will rapidly dehydrate the specimen. • Specimens may be stored during the day when the automatic defrost cycle is not activated but they must be covered by a layer of cryocompound or wrapped in aluminum foil to prevent dehydration. • Not only is the specimen dehydrated, but also the cryocompound surrounding the specimen. The cryocompound sectioning properties are negatively influenced (feels like sectioning chewing gum). • When sectioning of a specimen is completed, remove the remaining sample from the specimen holder while still frozen and wrap in a double layer of aluminum foil, label and store in a sealed container in a -80 °C freezer.
