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Figure One: Outline of the Tissue Bank Procedure Following Receipt of Fresh Tissue

1. Dissection and cryopreservation of fresh tissue

   1. Fresh tissue (brain and, where possible, spinal cord) received

   2. Brain photographed and cut in half

   3. Half taken for preservation in fixative (see number 2)

   4. Remaining tissue cut into 1cm thick anterior and posterior slices

   5. Slices photographed

   6. Slices cut into blocks and re-photographed

   7. Tissue blocks snap-frozen in isopentane

   8. Blocks logged and stored in the freezer (-85^oC)

2. Dissection and cryopreservation of fixed tissue

   1. Several weeks in fixative solution

   2. Cut into slices, photographed and examined by a neuropathologist

   3. Specific blocks removed for analysis (see number 3)

   4. Remaining tissue cut into blocks and re-photographed

   5. Blocks snap-frozen in isopentane

   6. Tissue logged and stored in the freezer (-85^oC)

3. Processing and analysis of selected fixed tissue blocks

   1. Tissue blocks infiltrated with paraffin

   2. Paraffin blocks cut into thin sections, which are then transferred to microscope slides

   3. Tissue sections stained using various standard and specific methods as necessary

   4. Staining analysed

   5. Report produced

4. Researchers request tissue and information for research