Automated Tissue Processing: Protocols, Reagents and Troubleshooting
Automated tissue processors dehydrate, clear and infiltrate fixed tissue with paraffin wax through programmed cycles of reagent exchanges.
Decalcification Techniques
Decalcification removes calcium from mineralized tissue to enable sectioning, using acids or chelating agents that must preserve morphology and antigenicity.
Embedding and Biobanking
Embedding orients tissue in paraffin blocks for sectioning, while biobanking preserves tissue and blocks for future research and molecular analysis.
Fixation: Theory, Chemistry and Fixative Types
Fixation preserves tissue morphology by stabilizing proteins and preventing autolysis, with the choice of fixative determining downstream staining success.
Specimen Reception, Gross Examination and Dissection
Specimen reception and gross examination are the first steps in histopathological preparation, ensuring correct identification and representative sampling.
