Dehydration (M) Flashcards
What are the steps of conventional tissue processing?
1) Labeling (Numbering)
2) Fixation
a. Washing out
3) Decalcification (optional)
4) Dehydration
5) Clearing
6) Impregnation (Infiltration)
a. Orientation
7) Embedding
a. Trimming
8) Section-Cutting (Microtomy)
a. Floating out
b. Adhesion
9) Staining
10) Mounting
a. Ringing
11) Labeling
True or False
Tissue processing (conventional) starts w/ labeling and end w/ labeling
True
What is dehydration?
It is the removal of fixative and intracellular and extracellular H2O from the sx
Why should H2O be removed (via dehydration)?
Because presence of H2O will impair subsequent steps
What should be done to acquire equal impregnation?
Replacement of fixative and H2O w/ dehydrating agent in preparation for impregnation
What are the characteristics of dehydrating agents?
1) These are of various types of alcohols
2) These alcohols are in increasing strengths
What is the action of dehydrating agents?
These prevents violent osmotic changes
What are the consequences that may be present via the use of various types of alcohols in increasing strengths?
It makes the tissue:
1) Hard
2) Brittle
3) Shrunken
4) Difficult to cut
Dehydration involves what?
It involves slow substitution of the H2O in the tissue w/ an organic solvent
What are the characteristics of an ideal dehydrating solution?
1) Rapid w/out shrinkage or distortion
2) Does not evaporate quickly
3) It should dehydrate fat
4) Does not harden tissues
5) Does not remove stains
6) It should be non-toxic
7) It should be non-flammable
What are the other considerations w/ dehydration?
1) Do not dry out the tissues
2) Use 10 times > the volume of the tissue for complete penetration
3) Dehydration must be brief as possible to minimize extracting the cellular components
4) H2O miscible and anhydrous fluid may be used as long as it does not damage the proteins and miscible to the fluids to be used subsequently
5) Agitation should be done
6) The temp should be 37 DC
7) Signs for H2O content should be observed such as:
a. Macerated tissue
b. Milky xylene
c. Anhydrous copper sulfate
What are the characteristics of anhydrous copper sulfate?
1) Its original color is color white
2) If tissue has H2O content, it is color blue (hence, it is indicative of presence of incomplete dehydration)
What is the typical dehydration sequence for sxs not > 4mm thick?
1) 70% ethanol - 15 mins
2) 90% ethanol - 15 mins
3) 100% ethanol - 15 mins
4) 100% ethanol - 15 mins
5) 100% ethanol - 30 mins
6) 100% ethanol - 45 mins
True or False
In connection w/ a typical dehydration sequence for sxs not > 4mm thick, more delicate tissue (embryo) begins at 30% ethanol
True
What is the processing schedule (stations / station rgnt and their corresponding time) for Leica TP 1020 for general surgical sxs w/c are 3 mm thick or are < or equal to 20 x 20 mm?
1) NBF - 1 hr + hold time
2) 95% alcohol - 1 hr
3) 95% alcohol - 1 hr
4) 95% alcohol - 1 hr
5) 100% alcohol - 1 hr
6) 100% alcohol - 1 hr
7) 100% alcohol - 1 hr
8) Xylene - 1 hr
9) Xylene - 1 hr
10) Xylene - 1 hr
11) Melted Paraffin - 1 hr
12) Melted Paraffin - 1 hr
What is the time for the processing schedule for TP Leica 1020 for processing general surgical sxs (w/c are 3 mm thick or are < or equal to 20 x 20 mm)?
Overnight (12 hrs)
What are the different dehydrants?
1) Ethanol
2) Methanol
3) Butanol (117.7 DC)
4) Tertiary butanol (82.8 DC)
5) Isopropanol
6) Pentanol (Amyl alcohol)
7) Acetone
8) Dioxane
9) Cellosolve (Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether)
10) Triethylphosphate
11) Tetrahydrofuran
What are the advantages of using ethanol as a dehydrant?
1) It is the best dehydrating agent
2) It is recommended for routine dehydration
3) It penetrates easily
4) It may be used for eyes and embryo
5) It is non-toxic
What are the disadvantages of using ethanol as a dehydrant?
1) It is only slightly miscible to wax / resins
2) It extracts methylene blue and other thiaxine dyes from section
3) It extracts more lipids > acetone
4) It may cause more shrinkage of sx and hardening for long periods in ethanol
5) It may react w/ unreduced osmium tetroxide (OsO4)