Embedding

Question 1

In general how should you embed everything

Answer 1

• Diagnostically most important side facing down
  
  • The longest axis of the specimen should be parallel to the blade
  • Always embed urgent tissues such as heart biopsies first
    Only ever open one cassette at a time

Question 2

How should you embedd hard tissue and why

Answer 2

orientate the specimen so that the blade meets the specimen at an angle -> prevents the blade ‘jumping’ when meeting the hard tissue

Question 3

What should you remeber to do when embedding multiple pieces of tissue and why

Answer 3

• When embedding multiple pieces of tissue, anchor each piece in the mold on the cold plate one at a time and in an order so that each piece is anchored with advancement of the solidifying wax – must be done rapidly to prevent premature solidification

Question 4

What should you do if there is no tissue in a cassette

Answer 4

○ Ask for help
○ Check embedding area for tissue
○ Check your clothes
○ Check MACRO report for details on specimen -> very small tissue won’t survive processing
○ Check processor for tissue
○ Check formalin lunch box where cassettes were stored for tissue – pass through sieve
○ Check original specimen container
If no tissue found then log a non conformance

Question 5

How should you embed skin

Answer 5

○ Full thickness of the epithelium needs to be visualized
○ Tough surfaces such as the epithelium on the palms or soles of the feet should meet the microtome blade after any softer tissue has been cut -> otherwise the soft tissue will be compressed by the blade when it meets the hard tissue
If unsure on orientation get scientist on microtomy to check superficial -> if incorrect just melt wax and re-embed

Question 6

How should you embed muscle

Answer 6

Both longitudinal and transverse sections are obtaine

Question 7

How should you embed tubular tissue

Answer 7

○ Embed on end so that the lumen is clearly visible and sections can be cut through the wall and lumen
Fallopian tube, vas deferens, blood vessels and appendix

Question 8

How should you embed a mucosa-covered biopsy

Answer 8

○ Embedded on edge so they can be cut at right angles to the surface so that full thickness of the epithelium is visualized
○ GIT