Tissue processing

Tissue processing is a key component of the histologic examination. This article covers it superficially. It is something a pathologist should have a rudimentary understanding of.

What happens to the tissue

In an ideal world the pathologist gets the tissue fresh and divides it up in the following way:

1. Formalin.
2. Electron microscopy.
3. Molecular genetics.
4. Cytogenetics.
5. Flow cytometry.
6. Tissue banks - institutional, regional, national, international.
7. Tissue culture.

Tissue processing

Basic process:

1. Fixation -- formalin.
2. Embedding -- replace water (in the tissue) with (paraffin) wax - using a series of alcohols.
3. Sectioning -- cut with microtome ~ 3-10 micrometers thick, routinue is usu. 6-8 micrometers.
4. Staining.

See also

• Tissue fixation.
• Molecular pathology.
• Tissue floater.

External links

• Histotechniques(med.utah.edu).