A Method for the Easy Collection of Serial Sections:

Extract

Make up 0.2% sodium lauryl sulphate (a detergent) in distilled water. Grids are dipped in this just prior to collecting sections, then drained on filter paper before introducing under the water in the knife boat and bringing up under the sections. The sections can be manipulated along flimed slots with an eyelash before the residual film of water dries. You can play this game under the binocular microscope for some minutes while watching the water evaporate. Its a bit like watching paint dry!

Sometimes, raising the water meniscus (i.e., to convex) is useful when trying to position sections prior to collection.

Too much carry-over of detergent can cause the sections to run together and bunch up, this is a surface tension effect of the detergent.