Problems and Solutions in Histological Technique

Problems in Histopathological Technique

Prepared by

ROY ELLIS

IMVS Division of Pathology

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Woodville Road, Woodville, South Australia 5011

Did you know that bone specimens can be processed undecalcified and then surface decalcified in 10% aqueous hydrochloric acid for 15 to 30 minutes before cutting. Calcified specimens can thus be available more quickly for diagnosis and staining is almost always better than if the bone is first decalcified?

This is a low power Haematoxylin and Eosin stained section of bone that was processed undecalcified and surface decalcified before cutting a section.

Processed this way there is very little shrinkage of soft tissue components away from the compact bone as is often the case when decalcification is done before processing. The overall staining is quite good and sections really are easy to obtain. Immunoperoxidase staining is far better also if bone is not decalcified for lengthy periods. But blocks need to be washed before cutting because decalcifying fluids quickly destroy knife edges.

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