Decalcification Flashcards
Most common and fastest decalcifying agent used so far
Decalcification Time: 12-24 hrs
10% Aqueous Nitric Acid Solution
Decalcification time: 1-3 days
Rapid acting; recommended for urgent biopsies
Nuclear staining is relatively good
Formol – Nitric Acid
Decalcification time: 3-14 days
Recommended for autopsy materials, bone marrow, cartilage and tissues studied for research purposes
Sodium Citrate Solution
Permits relatively good cytologic staining
Does not require washing out before dehydration
Recommended for teeth and small pieces of bone
Von Ebner’s Fluid
Inferior to nitric acid in its role as a decalcifying agent because of its slower action and greater distortion of tissues
Produces good nuclear staining
Hydrochloric Acid
Decalcification time: 12-24 hrs
Most rapid decalcifying agent so far
Complete decalcification cannot be determined by chemical means
Phloroglucin – Nitric Acid
Decalcification time: 2-7 days
Decalcifies and softens tissue at the same time
Maceration is avoided due to the presence of chromic acid and alcohol
Perenyi’s Fluid
May be used as a fixative and decalcifying agent
Recommended for routine decalcification of postmortem research tissues
Decalcification time: 2-7 days
Requires neutralization with 5% sodium sulfate and washing out
Formic Acid
Decalcification time: 6 days
Action is too slow for routine purposes
Citric Acid – Citrate Buffer Solution
May be used as a fixative and a decalcifying agent
Nuclear staining with hematoxylin is inhibited
Forms precipitates at the bottom, which requires frequent changes of solution
Chromic Acid (Flemming’s Fluid)
Decalcification time: 4-8 days
Does not require washing out
Suitable only for small spicules of bone
Trichloroacetic Acid
Very weak decalcifying agent suitable only for minute pieces of bone
Sulfurous Acid
Degree of decalcification cannot be measure by routine chemical test
Complete decalcification cannot be determined by chemical means
Chromic Acid (Flemming’s Fluid)
Phloroglucin – Nitric Acid
Used to decalcify minute bone spicules
Chromic Acid (Flemming’s Fluid)
Recommended for small pieces of bones and teeth
Formic Acid
