Specimen Preservation
Specimen Preservation - Related Videos
08:12
Brain Banking: Making the Most of your Research Specimens
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Cited by 21 •
2009
Brain banking and systematic sampling of biological material provides the basis for unbiased stereology and maximizes the potential data obtained from each specimen.
09:03
Rapid Freezing using Sandwich Freezing Device for Good Ultrastructural Preservation of Biological Specimens in Electron Microscopy
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Cited by 5 •
2021
Here we show how to use the sandwich freezing device for rapid freezing of biological specimens, including bacteria, yeast, cultured cells, isolated cells, animal and human tissues, and viruses. We also show how to prepare specimens for ultrathin sectioning after rapid freezing.
08:07
Regulating Temperature in the Lab: Preserving Samples Using Cold
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2023
Preservation of laboratory samples, specimens, and reagents using extreme cold is routinely performed in biomedical research labs. This video will discuss some of the methods for keeping laboratory samples cold and will explain the correct cooling method to use for each experimental requirement. For example, cooling agents, such as ice and dry ice, are typically used when keeping samples cold during experiments. This video discusses the physical properties of the most commonly used cooling...
04:24
Vitrification-based Cryopreservation: An Ultra-rapid Cooling Technique to Preserve Biological Specimens at Very Low Temperatures for Long-term Storage
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2023
In this video, we demonstrate an ultra-rapid cryo vitrification method for preserving biological samples. The method entails the use of a combination of cryoprotectants to protect the biological tissue from freezing damage by preventing intracellular ice crystal formation.
06:02
Isolation of CD 90+ Fibroblast/Myofibroblasts from Human Frozen Gastrointestinal Specimens
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Cited by 17 •
2016
Here, a protocol to isolate and establish primary fibroblast/myofibroblast (MF) cultures from frozen gastric, small intestinal, and colonic tissue-yielding cells with a MF phenotype-is presented. These cells express CD90, α-SMA and vimentin. MFs can be used for a variety of functional assays including enzymatic activity and cytokine production.
FAQs
The main protective effect comes from slowing processes that progressively change a sample. Refrigeration and freezing reduce degradation, while chemical fixation, dehydration, and immersion in preservatives provide alternative ways to limit autolysis, enzymatic breakdown, or microbial growth. This helps retain observable structures and identifying features for later examination.
Method selection depends on what must remain measurable after treatment. A procedure that protects tissue morphology may not preserve nucleic acids or other molecular components equally well. Consequently, researchers should choose the preservative and storage condition alongside the intended analysis, rather than treating preservation as a one-size-fits-all step.
Refrigeration and freezing are controlled physical conditions, whereas fixation, dehydration, and immersion use chemical or processing-based approaches. These options are not interchangeable: each must be matched to the specimen and the features needed for study. The comparison is practical, focusing on whether the resulting sample remains suitable for microscopy, documentation, or molecular analysis.
A basic preservation workflow begins by identifying the specimen and the intended downstream study. The researcher then selects a compatible approach, such as refrigeration, freezing, fixation, dehydration, or immersion in a preservative, and maintains the associated storage conditions. Final suitability should be judged by whether structure, composition, and identifying features remain available for the planned examination.
Preserved tissues, organisms, and fluids can support several biological activities. Microscopy uses retained structure, anatomical documentation records form, and taxonomy depends on identifying features. The same materials may also contribute to teaching and research collections, where stable samples remain available beyond the time of initial collection.
Specimen preservation is especially valuable when biological material must be compared or revisited after collection. A preserved sample can provide a continuing source for anatomical documentation, taxonomic identification, microscopy, teaching, or collection-based research. Its usefulness depends on preserving the particular features those activities require, since no single treatment is optimal for every specimen or analysis.