HISTOPATH TISSUE PREPARATION Flashcards
is a process whereby a
selected tissue specimen is immersed in a watch
glass containing isotonic salt solution, carefully
dissected or separated, and examined under the
microscope, either unstained by phase contrast or
bright field microscopy, or stained with differential dyes
teasing or dissociation
Small pieces of tissue not more than one mm. in
diameter are placed in a microscopic slide and
forcibly compressed with another slide or with a
cover glass
squash preparation (crushing)
Process of examining sections or sediments, whereby cellular materials are spread lightly over a slide by means of a wireloop or applicator or by making an apposition smear with another slide.
smear preparation
w/ an applicator stick or a platinum loop,
the material is rapidly and gently applied in a direct or zigzag line throughout the slide
streaking
kind of smear that should be avoided
too thin and too thick smear
a selected portion of the material is
transferred to a clean slide and gently spread into a moderately thick film by teasing the mucous strands apart with an applicator stick.
spreading
For fresh sputum ____
bronchial aspirates and thick
mucoid secretions
done by placing a drop of secretions
or sediment upon one slide and facing it to another clean slide
pull-apart
pull-apart is used for
Serous fluid, conc. Sputum, enzymatic lavage
samples from GIT and blood smears
the surface of a freshly cut piece of tissue is brought into contact and pressed on to the surface of a clean glass slide, allowing the cells to be transferred directly to the slide for examination by phase contrast microscopy or stained for light microscopic study
touch preparation (impression smear)
utilized when a rapid diagnosis of
the tissue is required
frozen section
frozen section is used for
For lipid, carbohydrates and nervous tissue elements
For rapid pathologic diagnosis during surgery
For diagnostic and research enzyme histochemistry
For silver stains (neuropathology) immunofluorescent and immunohistochemical staining
Commonly Used Methods of
Freezing
- Liquid nitrogen
- Isopentane cooled by liquid nitrogen
- Carbon dioxide gas
- Aerosol sprays
- adequate for freezing small
pieces of tissue except muscle
aerosol sprays
used for histochemistry and during operative procedures
Liquid nitrogen
disadvantage of liquid nitrogen
soft tissue is liable to crack due to the
rapid expansion of the ice w/in the tissue, producing ice crystals or freeze artifacts.
Overcools urgent biopsy blocks, causing damage to both..
block and blade if sectioning is done at -70 C or
below
Non-fatty unfixed tissues are sectioned well at
temperatures between
-10 C and -25 C
TISSUE PROCESSING
- Numbering
- Fixation
- Dehydration
- Clearing
- Infiltration
- Embedding
- Trimming
- Section-Cutting
- Staining
- Mounting
- Labeling
Identify properly all the specimens received without the need of writing the patient’s name to the accompanying specimen tag
Numbering
where is the details written in numbering
Entering the details of the specimen in alog book
how to do numbering
In numbering, the specimen number is preceded by either S (surgical), A (autopsy) or C (cytology). The year is also indicated. Example: S98-7677
After numbering the pathologist will describe the
_____ of the specimen. The MT will
write down the ____ at the back of the
request
gross description and description
Specimen size for processing:
3x2x0.5cm (length) and 3-5mmthick
the function of fixation
Preserve the tissue- stop all cellular activities
Prevent breakdown of cellular elements (prevents postmortem decomposition (autolysis) and prevents putrefaction)
Coagulate or precipitate protoplasmic substances
for conventional bright field light microscopy, we follow the following steps:
0.5 x 0.5 cm tissue is added to a small jar containing the fixative
adding tissue to a small jar containing fixative is to:
prevent autolysis
terminate cell metabolism
kill bacteria
harden tissue
fixative used is usually
Formalin 10% solution
tissues are fixed:
to preserve cells and tissues constituents
to prevent their degredation
with fixative’s volume 20x greater
Bouin’s Fixative / Formalin for 24 hrs
TWO basic mechanisms in fixation
additive fixation
Non- additive fixation
chemical constituent of the fixative is
taken in and becomes part of the tissue by forming cross-links or molecular complexes and giving stability to the protein
additive fixation
example of additive fixatives
Formalin, mercury and osmium tetroxide
fixation-fixing agent is not incorporated
into the tissue, but alters the tissue composition and stabilizes the tissue by removing the bound water attached to H bonds of certain groups w/in the CHON molecule.
non-additive fixation
non-additive fixatives example
alcohol fixatives
FACTORS INVOLVED IN FIXATION
pH
Temperature
Thickness of section
Osmolality
Concentration
Duration of Fixation
the pH in fixation
6-8
temperature in fixation
Surgical spe - room temp.
tissue processors- 40 deg celsius
electron microscopy & histochem - 0-4 deg celsius
Formalin at 60 deg celsius is for
rapid fixation of urgent biopsy
Formalin 100 deg celsius is for
TB