Cryostats are invaluable for histologists due to several reasons:
1. Rapid Diagnosis: Intraoperative consultations often rely on cryostat-prepared sections to provide quick diagnostic information during surgeries. For example, determining the presence of cancerous cells can guide surgical decisions in real-time. 2. Preservation of Antigens: The freezing process preserves tissue antigens better than traditional fixation methods, making cryostats ideal for immunohistochemistry. 3. Minimal Chemical Alteration: Freezing tissues avoids chemical fixation, which can alter certain cellular components. This is crucial for certain biochemical and molecular analyses.
