Knife marks: Vertical lines running through the entire section.

Knife marks: Vertical lines running through the entire section.

Causes and remedies

  • Dull blade
    Move blade to an unused area or insert a new blade
  • Debris on blade
    Brush debris off blade
  • Poor tissue processing
    Soak to rehydrate if overprocessed

  • Debris in paraffin
    Re-embed in fresh paraffin
  • Hard specimens such as bone
    Adjust time in decal solution
Microscopic view of a tissue sample stained in shades of pink, showing scattered cells and fibrous structures throughout the image.

Knife marks: Vertical lines running through the entire section. Causes and remedies