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 pseudocalcification artefacts are seen when calcium acetate or carbonate is used to neutralise 10% formalin or when any calcium salts are used in compound fixatives?

Formol calcium would be the most common and is a fixative which Baker originally recommended as one which preserved the structure of phospholipids better than formalin alone or formalin in combination with sodium chloride.

And I think you will agree this section of kidney fixed in formol calcium and stained H&E shows pretty good, well preserved cellular detail and excellent staining as well as showing calcium deposits.

This is a section from the same kidney as the previous section, so it was fixed in formol calcium and stained by Von Kossa showing the distribution of the black calcium deposits.

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