Embedding Flashcards

1
Q

In general how should you embed everything

A
  • Diagnostically most important side facing down
    • The longest axis of the specimen should be parallel to the blade
    • Always embed urgent tissues such as heart biopsies first
      Only ever open one cassette at a time
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2
Q

How should you embedd hard tissue and why

A

orientate the specimen so that the blade meets the specimen at an angle -> prevents the blade ‘jumping’ when meeting the hard tissue

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3
Q

What should you remeber to do when embedding multiple pieces of tissue and why

A
  • When embedding multiple pieces of tissue, anchor each piece in the mold on the cold plate one at a time and in an order so that each piece is anchored with advancement of the solidifying wax – must be done rapidly to prevent premature solidification
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4
Q

What should you do if there is no tissue in a cassette

A

○ Ask for help
○ Check embedding area for tissue
○ Check your clothes
○ Check MACRO report for details on specimen -> very small tissue won’t survive processing
○ Check processor for tissue
○ Check formalin lunch box where cassettes were stored for tissue – pass through sieve
○ Check original specimen container
If no tissue found then log a non conformance

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5
Q

How should you embed skin

A

○ Full thickness of the epithelium needs to be visualized
○ Tough surfaces such as the epithelium on the palms or soles of the feet should meet the microtome blade after any softer tissue has been cut -> otherwise the soft tissue will be compressed by the blade when it meets the hard tissue
If unsure on orientation get scientist on microtomy to check superficial -> if incorrect just melt wax and re-embed

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6
Q

How should you embed muscle

A

Both longitudinal and transverse sections are obtaine

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7
Q

How should you embed tubular tissue

A

○ Embed on end so that the lumen is clearly visible and sections can be cut through the wall and lumen
Fallopian tube, vas deferens, blood vessels and appendix

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8
Q

How should you embed a mucosa-covered biopsy

A

○ Embedded on edge so they can be cut at right angles to the surface so that full thickness of the epithelium is visualized
○ GIT

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9
Q
A
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10
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