Sigma-Aldrich’s H2100 microwave system now provides the histology laboratory with stat applications for tissue fixation and tissue processing. The H2100 microwave, designed for laboratory use, has a rugged stainless-steel exterior and an easy-to-clean stainless-steel cavity with a ceramic floor. Other features of the H2100 microwave include variable wattage settings and short magnetron cycle times for more precise temperature control. A 100-cu-ft per minute ventilation system safely extracts hazardous fumes from the interior cavity to an outside source. A built-in mode stirrer prevents static wave patterns and allows for the even distribution of microwave energy.

The H2100 microwave has been used in special histology staining for many years to produce high-quality stains while reducing staining times. Now with applications specifically designed for the H2100 microwave, small-volume laboratories can achieve rapid fixation, dehydration, and paraffin impregnation of biopsy specimens. Applications are available for both 10% neutral buffered formalin fixation and formalin-free fixative fixation. The use of microwave technology in the tissue-processing application eliminates the need for xylene, thus avoiding a health hazard while reducing the amount of expensive reagents needed. Tissue processing can be performed in as little as 90 minutes.

According to Sigma-Aldrich, the H2100 microwave system is an inexpensive option for laboratories that do not perform high-volume tissue processing. It offers performance and safety features not found in mass-produced microwaves intended for household use. The versatile H2100 microwave system is designed for laboratories that want the benefit of rapid tissue fixation and processing without the steep cost associated with high-throughput microwave instrumentation.

Sigma-Aldrich
(800)325-3010; www.sigma-aldrich.com