PPT: Fixation and Decalcification Flashcards
10 STEPS IN TISSUE PROCESSING
- FIXATION
- DECALCIFICATION if necessary; DEHYDRATION.
- CLEARING
- INFILTRATION/ IMPREGNATION
- EMBEDDING
- TRIMMING
- SECTION CUTTING
- STAINING
- MOUNTING
- LABELLING
a chemical process by which biological tissues are preserved from decay, either through autolysis or putrefaction.
Fixation
terminates any ongoing biochemical reactions, and may also increases the mechanical strength or stability of the treated tissues.
Fixation
The aims of fixation are:
- Prevent postmortem (PM) degeneration
- Prevent autolysis. It is effective against hydrolytic enzymes
- Stop the bacterial effect
- Harden the tissues, as fixation causes coagulation of proteins
- Fixation has a mordanting effect, facilitating subsequent staining of tissues.
Example of Additive fixation:
Mercury and Osmium tetroxide
Example of Non-Additive Fixation
Alcoholic fixatives
Duration of fixation can be shortened by:
- Heat
- Vacuum
- Agitation
- Microwave
Factors that affect fixation:
Retarded by
- Thick tissue size
- Presence of mucus
- Presence of fat
- Presence of blood
- Cold temperature
Factors that affect fixation:
Enhanced by
- Thin size
- Agitation
TYPES OF FIXATIVE:
Based on Composition
- Simple fixatives
- Compound fixatives
TYPES OF FIXATIVE
According to Action
- Histochemical fixatives
- Microanatomical fixatives
- Cytologic fixatives
TYPES OF FIXATIVE
Based on Chemical Nature
- Physical agents
- Aldehydes
- Coagulants
- Oxidizing agents
- Miscellaneous
a solution of formaldehyde. It is the most common chemical fixative used in histopathology.
Formalin
Formalin itself is a_______ solution of formaldehyde gas in water.
37%-40%
10% of formalin used for fixation is prepared by adding 10% of formalin to _________
90 ml of saline.
Turbidity in the formalin is due to formation of ________ which is formed due to polymerization of formaldehyde.
paraformaldehyde
Usually commercial formaldehydes contain _________ which inhibits the formation of paraformaldehyde.
11% to 16% methanol
Formalin acts by ___________, i.e, the formation of complexes by development of links (methylene bridges) between protein molecules.
polymerizing action
Usually commercial formaldehydes contain_________which inhibits the formation of paraformaldehyde.
11% to 16% methanol
Formalin characteristics:
Hours of fixation time in room temp.
8-24 hours
Formalin characteristics:
hours if with agitation
4 hours
Formalin characteristics:
hours if temperature is increased up to 45C
2-3 hours
Formalin is usually buffered to pH ____ with _____
pH 7
phosphate buffer
Use of ____ formalin may cause brown pigments on blood containing tissues.
unbuffered
Formalin pigment is brown granular material formed by the action of formalin in excess of blood. It is removed by:
- Picric acid
- Kardasewitsch’s method
Formalin pigment and removal:
Place the sections in the saturated alcoholic solution of picric acid for 20 min to 2 hrs & then wash under tap water for 10 to 15 min.
Picric acid
Formalin pigment and removal:
After washing with
water place the sections in the following mixture for 5 min to 3 hrs then wash with water:
-70% ethyl alcohol – 100 ml
-20% Ammonia – 10-20 ml
Kardasewitsch’s method
Maintains color - also known as museum fixative
10% formal saline
recommended for CNS material
10% formal saline
Slow & liable for shrinkage during dehydration
10% formal saline
Recommended for routine post-mortem material
Formol Sublimate
No hardening/shrinkage and the cytological details and RBCs are well preserved
Formol Sublimate
Recommended for lipid fixation
Formol calcium (Lillie; 1965)
Have a near neutral pH
Formol calcium (Lillie; 1965)