Problems in Histopathological Technique

 

Prepared by

ROY ELLIS

IMVS Division of Pathology

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Woodville Road, Woodville, South Australia 5011

Email: roy.ellis@imvs.sa.gov.au

 

 

 

PROBLEM NUMBER 20
Sections appear chalky white on flotation
WHY?

  • Again this problem is usually associated with incomplete dehydration, clearing and/or impregnation. Most commonly though it is caused by incomplete dehydration. The affected tissue needs to be rehydrated and then re-processed because otherwise these sections do not stain properly. They stain very darkly with both haematoxylin and eosin making a diagnosis very difficult. And they have a marked tendency to float off the slide during staining.

           

 

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© Roy C. Ellis 2002