Special Tissue Processing

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Special Tissue Processing

There are processing protocols for every special tissue technique. Some of the more common protocols have been created for tissue that is to be studied for gout. This processing technique must omit all stations that contain water, since water will dissolve the sodium urate crystals. Aqueous formalin fixative, 70% and 95% alcohols will be omitted, therefore, the process begins with 100% alcohol.
Biopsies that require rapid diagnosis, such as liver and kidney cores, can be processed quickly since they are only 1-2 mm thick. The processing time is almost half of the standard biopsy protocol, or about 3 hours. For a biopsy that was taken at 9:00 AM, the pathologist can have a diagnosis by 3:30 PM. That is much faster than the standard 24-hours that routine tissue requires for fixation, processing, and staining.