OCT Tissue Sectioning: Precision Cryosectioning for Frozen Tissue Analysis 

At iHisto, we provide high-quality OCT tissue sectioning services for your frozen tissue samples. Whether you're performing immunofluorescence, enzyme histochemistry, or lipid staining, our cryosectioning workflow ensures smooth, reproducible sections optimized for sensitive applications.

🧪 Overview

OCT (Optimal Cutting Temperature compound) tissue sectioning refers to cryosectioning fresh-frozen samples embedded in OCT medium. This method preserves native antigenicity, enzymatic activity, and lipid content, making it the preferred choice for:

• Routine H&E staining – for morphology and diagnostic screening

• Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH) – compatible with antigen and nucleic acid retrieval

• Special stains and board-certified pathologist review

• Biobanking and long-term archival – stable FFPE blocks for retrospective or future analysis

• Molecular pathology workflows – including RNA/DNA-safe processing for NGS, PCR, and digital PCR

• Spatial biology & multiplex profiling – embedding protocols optimized for platforms like 10x Visium, NanoString GeoMx, and ACD RNAscope®

Unlike FFPE, OCT sectioning avoids chemical fixation and dehydration, enabling ultrasensitive biomarker detection and RNA integrity preservation.

🧬 Our Cryosectioning Workflow

1. Sample Preparation – Fresh tissue embedded in OCT and flash frozen in isopentane or dry ice

2. Cryostat Sectioning – Sections cut at 5–20 µm using calibrated cryostats

3. Slide Transfer – Sections placed on Fisherbrand™ Superfrost™ Plus slides for maximum adhesion

4. Storage or Immediate Staining – Slides stored at -20°C/-80°C or processed directly for staining or IF

5. Optional QA/QC Imaging – Visual inspection to ensure morphological preservation

🔬 Applications of OCT Sectioning

• Immunofluorescence (IF) – Protein localization with minimal antigen loss

• Lipid detection – Oil Red O or Sudan Black staining of neutral lipids

• Enzyme activity assays – Avoids fixation artifacts, supports metabolic assays

• Spatial biology – Ideal for preserving RNA and protein for multiplex profiling

• Tissue banking – Supports fresh-frozen repositories and longitudinal research

We also support neuroscience, oncology, metabolism, and inflammation research with high-quality cryosectioned slides.

✅ Why Choose iHisto

• ✅ Precision cryosectioning at 8 µm thickness

• ✅ Clean, wrinkle-free sections with minimal freezing artifacts

• ✅ Mounted on Superfrost Plus™ slides for IF and ISH compatibility

• ✅ Suitable for human, rodent, and preclinical models

• ✅ Optional slide scanning and IF staining available

• ✅ Full cold chain handling to preserve biomolecular integrity

❓ FAQs 

• What is OCT tissue sectioning?
  It’s the cryosectioning of fresh-frozen tissue embedded in Optimal Cutting Temperature compound, ideal for preserving native structure and biomolecules.

• What thickness do you cut?
  Standard: 8–10 µm, adjustable from 5–20 µm depending on application (e.g., lipid vs IF vs morphology).

• Do you accept pre-embedded OCT blocks?
  Yes — we process customer-supplied blocks or can embed fresh tissue in OCT upon arrival.

• Can I request stained or scanned slides?
  Absolutely — we offer H&E, IF, Oil Red O, and digital whole-slide scanning.

📩 Request a Quote or Consultation 

Need clean, reliable frozen tissue sections? iHisto’s OCT cryosectioning services are optimized for downstream IF, lipid, and RNA workflows — with fast turnaround and cold-chain quality assurance.

👉 Request a Quote or email us at info@ihisto.io