What is the typical thickness of specimens prepared for cryostat sectioning?

• A. 6 micrometers
• B. 1 micrometer
• C. 20 micrometers
• D. 100 micrometers

Answer: (A)

In frozen-section work, you want sections that are thin enough to reveal cellular detail but still easy to handle during rapid processing and staining. About 6 micrometers is the standard thickness because it provides good resolution of nuclei and cytoplasm while staying mechanically stable in a cryostat. Cutting much thinner, like 1 micrometer, makes sections extremely fragile and prone to tearing or chatter in frozen tissue. Cutting thicker, such as 20 micrometers, blurs details and complicates staining, and 100 micrometers is simply too thick for light microscopic evaluation. So 6 micrometers hits the right balance for routine cryostat sections.