Caplugs® Evergreen
Biopsy Cassettes, PP, White — 258-4252-W90 | 500/Bag | Caplugs® Evergreen
Biopsy Cassettes, PP, White — 258-4252-W90 | 500/Bag | Caplugs® Evergreen
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2-Compartment Biopsy Cassettes with Covers, 0.6 mm Holes, Acetal (POM), White — 258-4252-W90 | 500/Bag
| Quick Reference — 258-4252-W90 | |
|---|---|
| Compartments | 2 isolated compartments |
| Material | Acetal (POM) |
| Color | White |
| Hole Size | 0.6 mm per compartment |
| Primary Use | Bilateral needle core biopsies, 2-site endoscopic biopsy panels |
| Xylene Resist. | ✓ Excellent |
| Paraffin Compat. | ✓ Excellent (56–65°C) |
| Assembly | Unassembled — 500 cassettes + 500 covers per Bag |
| Sterility | Non-Sterile |
| Pack Size | 500 / Bag |
| Price | $168.90 / Bag ($0.3378 / cassette) |
Technical Narrative
The Caplugs® Evergreen is a 2-compartment Acetal (POM) biopsy cassette with 0.6 mm holes per compartment — designed for bilateral needle core biopsies, 2-site endoscopic biopsy panels where maintaining site-specific tissue identity through processing, embedding, and sectioning is a diagnostic requirement. The 2 integral compartment dividers are molded as part of the cassette body — not removable inserts — ensuring inter-compartment specimen isolation is maintained through the full processing solvent sequence including xylene and 65°C paraffin infiltration. The 0.6 mm aperture in each compartment retains the smallest clinically processed biopsy fragments while allowing full reagent penetration during tissue processing.
Acetal (POM) is specified for this cassette class because the 0.6 mm hole size — smaller than the standard 1.0–2.0 mm range — requires maximum dimensional stability under xylene exposure and thermal cycling. At 0.6 mm, any polymer creep or hole deformation directly impacts specimen retention performance. Acetal's crystalline POM structure maintains 0.6 mm aperture geometry through prolonged xylene immersion, rapid-cycle processor agitation, and repeated paraffin infiltration at 65°C — a stability performance that PP cassettes cannot consistently deliver at sub-millimeter aperture sizes.
At $168.90 per 500/Bag — $0.3378 per cassette — the 2-compartment format delivers site-specific biopsy preservation at a per-cassette cost that is competitive with processing 2 separate standard cassettes — with the added workflow benefit of reducing cassette count per patient case by up to 2x for bilateral prostate needle core biopsies. Also available: 258-4264-W90 (4-Compartment Acetal White 0.6 mm, $175.01/Bag); 258-4279-W90 (9-Compartment Acetal White 0.6 mm, $184.26/Bag).
Technical Specifications — Caplugs® Evergreen
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Part Number | |
| Caplugs Item # | 2584252W90E1 |
| Compartments | 2 isolated compartments — integral dividers |
| Material | Acetal (POM) — Polyoxymethylene (POM) |
| Color | White |
| Hole Size | 0.6 mm per compartment (ultra-small fragment retention) |
| Xylene Resist. | ✓ Excellent — POM superior to PP |
| Paraffin Compat. | ✓ Excellent — dimensional stability at 56–65°C |
| Formalin Compat. | ✓ Excellent (10% NBF, extended exposure) |
| Assembly State | Unassembled — 500 cassettes + 500 covers per Bag |
| Sterility | Non-Sterile |
| Pack Size | 500 / Bag |
| Application | Bilateral needle core biopsies, 2-site endoscopic biopsy panels |
| BPA / Phthalate | BPA-free; no phthalate plasticizers |
| Country of Origin | Made in U.S.A. (California) |
Multi-Site Biopsy Protocol Compatibility — 2-Compartment
The 2-compartment cassette is engineered for protocols requiring site-specific preservation of 2 discrete biopsy specimens in a single cassette through processing and embedding:
| Application | Specimen / Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bilateral needle core biopsy | Right and left prostate lobe cores | Each compartment holds one core — bilateral preservation in one cassette |
| 2-site endoscopic biopsy | 2 GI sites in single processing run | Reduces cassette count for 2-site endoscopic mapping protocols |
| Paired lymph node biopsies | Bilateral or regional lymph node cores | Site-specific labeling on compartment wall for orientation |
| 2-quadrant cervical mapping | Colposcopy 2-quadrant biopsy protocol | Maintains site identity through processing and embedding |
| Dermpath bilateral excisions | Left/right anatomic site pair | Compartment separation prevents inter-specimen tissue transfer |
Compartment dividers are integral to the Acetal cassette body — not removable inserts. Each compartment has its own 0.6 mm hole array for individual specimen retention. Label compartment positions on the cassette body before loading to maintain site-specific orientation through to the embedding stage.
Chemical & Processing Compatibility — Acetal (POM)
Acetal (POM) provides excellent xylene resistance and paraffin compatibility — essential for the 0.6 mm aperture to maintain dimension through repeated processing cycles.
| Reagent / Condition | Compatibility |
|---|---|
| Formalin (10% NBF, extended) | ✓ Excellent |
| Xylene / xylene substitutes | ✓ Excellent — superior to PP |
| Ethanol (all concentrations) | ✓ Excellent |
| Isopropanol (IPA) | ✓ Excellent |
| Paraffin wax (56–65°C) | ✓ Excellent — dimensional stability |
| Formic acid (decalcification) | ✓ Good — 10–20% formic acid |
| EDTA (decalcification) | ✓ Excellent |
| Dilute acids (<10%) | ✓ Good |
| Acetone (brief) | ✓ Good |
Anatomic Pathology Laboratory Applications
The 2-compartment cassette serves anatomic pathology programs with high-volume systematic prostate biopsy; GI endoscopy pathology for multi-site mucosal mapping protocols including Sydney Protocol gastric mapping; gynecologic pathology for multi-quadrant cervical biopsy; dermatopathology for multi-punch biopsy protocols; and any histopathology workflow requiring site-specific preservation of 2 discrete specimens in a single processing cassette.
U.S. Manufacturing, Quality & Institutional Procurement
Every Caplugs® Evergreen lot is precision-molded at our California manufacturing facility and subject to rigorous dimensional inspection and material purity verification. We supply hospital systems, reference laboratories, and federal procurement offices under institutional pricing programs with blanket-order support and same-day shipping on stocked inventory. Request a compatibility sample below to validate fit with your protocol before committing to volume.
Frequently Asked Questions — Caplugs® Evergreen
What biopsy protocols are the 2-compartment cassette designed for?
The 2-compartment format is designed for: bilateral prostate needle core biopsies (one core per compartment per side), 2-site endoscopic biopsy panels, and any protocol requiring site-specific preservation of 2 discrete specimens in one cassette. Each compartment holds one biopsy fragment with independent 0.6 mm fragment retention holes.
How do the 0.6 mm holes in each compartment compare to standard cassettes?
0.6 mm is significantly smaller than the standard cassette hole range (1.0–2.0 mm), making the the appropriate choice for the smallest biopsy fragments — particularly GI mucosal fragments, endocervical curettings, and needle core specimens that shrink below 1.0 mm in cross-section during xylene dehydration. The Acetal (POM) material maintains this 0.6 mm aperture consistently across processing cycles — a stability requirement that rules out PP for this aperture size.
Are the compartment dividers removable in the cassette?
No. The 2 compartment dividers are integral to the Acetal (POM) cassette body — molded as one piece. They cannot be removed. This is intentional — removable insert dividers can dislodge during tissue processor agitation, causing inter-compartment cross-contamination and specimen identification failure. The integral divider design maintains compartment isolation through the full processing sequence.
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