Rapid method for cell block preparation

摘要

The preparation of paraffinized cell blocks from fixed tissue and sputum samples employs microwave enhanced dehydration and impregnation of the cell specimens. The fixed cell specimen is first exposed to a suitable dehydrating agent, typically a low molecular weight alcohol, and exposed to microwave radiation for a relatively short period of time. The dehydrated sample is then cleared (if necessary) and immersed in a suitable melted wax and thereafter exposed to microwave radiation again for a relatively short period of time. The resulting paraffinized tissue sections have been found to possess staining characteristics which are substantially equivalent or superior to those obtained by conventional cell block paraffinization techniques.