Decalcification Flashcards

1
Q

Give the two chemical agents usually used to carry out decalcification.

A
  1. Chemical agents with acids

2. Chemical agents with chelating agents

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2
Q

Inadequate decalcification will result in?

A

Poor cutting of hard tissues and damage to the knife

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3
Q

What is the remedy if there is a “grating” sensation when sectioned?

A

Place the block face down on a pad of cotton or gauze saturated with 10% HCL for 1hr

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4
Q

True or false:
A good decalcifying agent must be capable of removing calcium salts from tissues with a little destruction of cells and tissue components

A

False. There should be no destruction of cells and tissue components

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5
Q

True or false:

Decalcification should be done before fixation and before impregnation

A

False. Decalcification is done AFTER fixation and before impregnation

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6
Q

Calcium may be removed by? Give four agents

A
  1. Acids
  2. Chelating agents
  3. Ion exchange resins
  4. Electrophoresis
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7
Q

Most widely used decalcifying agents for routine decalcification of large amounts bone tissues

A

Acid decalcifying agents

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8
Q

True or false:

Acid decalcifying agents are stable, easily available and relatively inexpensive

A

True

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9
Q

Most common and very rapid decalcifying agent which can be used both as a simple aqueous solution or combined with other agents

A

Nitric acid

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10
Q

Recommended for urgent biopsy, needle and small biopsy specimen to permit rapid diagnosis within 24hrs or less.

A

Aqueous Nitric acid add solution 10%

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11
Q

Decalcification time of formol-nitric acid

A

1-3days

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12
Q

What should you do if there is a yellow discoloration in the specimen due to formol-nitric acid?

A

Neutralize the tissue with 5% sodium sulfate and washing in running tap water for at least 12 hrs or by add 0.1% urea to pure concentrated nitric acid

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13
Q

Decalcification time of Perenyi’s fluid

A

2-7days

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14
Q

Most rapid decalcifying agent

A

Phloroglucin-nitric acid

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15
Q

Decalcification time of Phloroglucin-nitric acid

A

12-24hrs

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16
Q

When decalcification with phloroglucin-nitric acid is complete, the acid must be removed by?

A

Three changes of 70%-90% ethanol

17
Q

Decalcifying agent recommended for teeth and small pieces of bone

A

Von Ebner’s fluid

18
Q

True or false:

Von ebner’s fluid requires washing out

A

False

19
Q

The only weak acid used extensively as a primary decalcifying agent

A

Formic acid

20
Q

Can be both used as a fixative and decalcifying agent

A

Aqueous formic acid

21
Q

Decalcification time of aqueous formic acid

A

2-7days

22
Q

True or false:

Aqueous formic acid does not require neutralization

A

False

23
Q

Recommended for autopsy materials, bone marrow, cartilage, and tissues studied for research purposes

A

Formic-acid sodium citrate solution

24
Q

Decalcification time of formic acid-sodium citrate solution

A

3-14days

25
Q

Decalcification time of trichloroacetate acid

A

4-8 days

26
Q

It tends to undergo reduction and forms precipitate ls at the bottom of the container thus requiring frequent change ls of solution

A

Chromic acid

27
Q

Other name for chromic acid

A

Flemming’s fluid

28
Q

Are substances which combine with calcium ions and other salts to form weakly dissociated complexes and facilitate removal of calcium salt

A

Chelating agents

29
Q

Most common chelating agent

A

EDTA/ Versene

30
Q

For how long should small specimen be immersed in EDTA?

A

1-3weeks

31
Q

How long would it take to totally decalcify dense cortical bone with EDTA?

A

6-8weeks

32
Q

Excellent bone decalcifier for immunohistochemical or enzyme staining and/or for electron microscopy

A

Chelating agents

33
Q

What can be used to restore/reactivate alkaline phosphatase activity that has been inactivated by EDTA?

A

Addition of magnesium chloride

34
Q

Hastens decalcification by removing calcium ions from formic acid-containing decalcifying solutions

A

Ion exchange resin

35
Q

True or false:

Ion exchange is recommended for fluids containing mineral acid (nitric or hydrochloric)

A

False. Not recommended

36
Q

For how long are tissues allowed to stay in solution when using ion exchange resin?

A

1-14days

37
Q

A process whereby positively charged calcium ions are attracted to negative electrode and subsequently removed from decalcifying solution

A

Electrophoresis

38
Q

Method in measuring the extent of decalcification

A
  1. Physical/ mechanical
  2. X-ray/ radiological
  3. Chemical/ calcium oxalate test
39
Q

Acts as a delcifying agent and tissue softener

A

Perenyi’s fluid