Agar specimen orientation technique revisited: a simple and effective method in histopathology.

The agar technique represents an important method to obtain optimal orientation of small specimens during paraffin embedding and to avoid tissue loss during processing. This method is advisable for ocular, temporal artery, gastrointestinal, cervical, and skin biopsies and may be applied with formalin-fixed specimens as well as with fresh tissue. Microwave oven can be successfully used to make the small specimen orientation technique with agar quicker and easier. Ann Diagn Pathol 5:107-109, 2001.