Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for increasing the coherency of a thin tissue section cut from a tissue sample to obtain a resulting increase in throughput of the tissue section actually transferred onto a slide for pathological evaluation. The apparatus includes an outer housing having an open end. Sealed vessel means disposed within the outer housing releasably contains ammonium hydroxide. Applicator means in fluid communication with the open end receives ammonium hydroxide released from the vessel means and is used to apply the ammonium hydroxide to an exposed surface of a tissue sample prior to cutting a tissue section from the sample. The method includes swabbing the exposed surface of the tissue sample with the applicator means for approximately ten seconds.