Decalcification Flashcards
Give the two chemical agents usually used to carry out decalcification.
- Chemical agents with acids
2. Chemical agents with chelating agents
Inadequate decalcification will result in?
Poor cutting of hard tissues and damage to the knife
What is the remedy if there is a “grating” sensation when sectioned?
Place the block face down on a pad of cotton or gauze saturated with 10% HCL for 1hr
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
False. There should be no destruction of cells and tissue components
True or false:
Decalcification should be done before fixation and before impregnation
False. Decalcification is done AFTER fixation and before impregnation
Calcium may be removed by? Give four agents
- Acids
- Chelating agents
- Ion exchange resins
- Electrophoresis
Most widely used decalcifying agents for routine decalcification of large amounts bone tissues
Acid decalcifying agents
True or false:
Acid decalcifying agents are stable, easily available and relatively inexpensive
True
Most common and very rapid decalcifying agent which can be used both as a simple aqueous solution or combined with other agents
Nitric acid
Recommended for urgent biopsy, needle and small biopsy specimen to permit rapid diagnosis within 24hrs or less.
Aqueous Nitric acid add solution 10%
Decalcification time of formol-nitric acid
1-3days
What should you do if there is a yellow discoloration in the specimen due to formol-nitric acid?
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
Decalcification time of Perenyi’s fluid
2-7days
Most rapid decalcifying agent
Phloroglucin-nitric acid
Decalcification time of Phloroglucin-nitric acid
12-24hrs