OVERVIEW OF HISTOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES AND LOGGING OF SPECIMEN

OVERVIEW:-

·                     TISSUES                       =  autopsies, biopsies, whole organs

·                     LOGGING                    =  log book and identification number

·                     GROSSING                  =  cut into smaller size

·                     TRIMMING                 =  cut into smaller blocks tag identification no.

·                     FIXATION                   =  soak tissues in fixative

·                    DECALCIFICATION   =  use acid to soften bone                      

·                     DEHYDRATION         =  soak in alcohol to remove water

·                     CLEARING                 =  xylene to clear alcohol, tissue transparent

·                     INFILTRATION           =  xylene flows out

·                     IMPREGNATION       =  paraffin wax flows in

·                     EMBEDDING             =  put tissue in molten wax

·                    ORIENTATION           =  positioning the tissue

·                     SECTIONING             =  use microtome to cut tissues into thin slices

·                     FISHING                     =  stick sections on slide

·                     DRYING                     =  dry sections  in the oven

·                     STAINING                  =  dyeing the sections

·                     MOUNTING               =  stick coverslip on sections

·                     LABELLING              =  stick label on the slides

LOGGING OF SPECIMENS:-

·                  Laboratory receives specimens in the form of - biopsies, whole organ

·                  Small biopsies specimens are placed in fixative solution - protect from drying

·                  Large surgical specimens may  arrive unfixed in plastic bags or saline moistened towels -    kept in refrigerator (will slow down autolysis) - until examined by the pathologist

·                 Mailing specimens - fixed before mailing        

·                The technician received the block - record the identification number - use tag and attached to specimen - record identification number in laboratory register - sketch of specimen - out line only - helpful in tracking   

·                 Transfer the specimens with identification tags into - small container with fresh fixative          

·                 Bone and calcified tissues - cut into small blocks with a saw - they need decalcification