Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 28, 2026

Optimal cutting temperature compound

Optimal cutting temperature (OCT) compound is used to embed tissue samples prior to frozen sectioning on a microtome-cryostat. This process is undertaken so as to mount slices (sections) of a sample onto slides for analysis.

Last revised
Jun 28, 2026
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Wikipedia ↗
Frozen section procedure: tissue embedded in optimal cutting temperature compound, mounted on a chuck in a cryostat and ready for section production source ↗

Optimal cutting temperature (OCT) compound is used to embed tissue samples prior to frozen sectioning on a microtome-cryostat. This process is undertaken so as to mount slices (sections) of a sample onto slides for analysis.

Components

From MSDS:1

  • 5–15% polyvinyl alcohol
  • 1–10% polyethylene glycol
  • 75–95% non-reactive ingredients
See also

See also

References

References

  1. "Safety Data Sheet" (PDF). Sakura. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
Further reading

Further reading

  • Turbett, Gavin; Sellner, Loryn (1997). "The use of optimal cutting temperature compound can inhibit amplification by polymerase chain reaction". Diagnostic Molecular Pathology. 6 (5): 298–303. doi:10.1097/00019606-199710000-00009. PMID 9458390.