Cytopathology
Hi guys!
How are you all doing? It’s already halfway through SIP!! :)
For the first 2 entries, they are all about Histology, but now, I’m going to talk about Cytology :)
For us, we have to take turns to be attached to Cytopathology Lab for a month. So I’m now in my third week in Cytology, and let me share about one component of it, ie. Erythrocyte lysis. And btw, Cytotechicians basically spend long hours (the whole day) screening slides, and they will take turns to be stationed in the processing room to prepare and process smears.
Cytology is different from Histology in that specimens sent to Cytology are fluid-based and are to be screen for pre-malignancy. Specimens sent to Histology are tissue specimens that consist of tumors, polyps (basically,already malignant).
The most common specimens received in Cytology are:
Non-gynaecological:
Sputum, Aspirate, CSF and urine
Gynaecological:
Cervical smear, vaginal smear
Some of these specimens may be blood-stained, and this blood contamination may obscure microscopic examination of cellular materials. (They only want to look at the specific cells for the tissue type and the inflammatory cells/WBCs)
So, we use hemolytic agent to help us.
1. Clarke’s solution, or
2. 0.9% Saline solution (equivalent to tap water)
Clarke’s solution
· Contains acetic acid and 95% alcohol
· Smears are placed in Clarke’s solution for 15-30 mins, until the RBCs are lysed (judging by the colour of the smear)
· Smears are then rinsed in water before fixing in 95% alcohol
0.9% Saline solution
· Smears are air-dried before placing in 0.9% Saline solution( or tap water)
· Smears are then fixed in 95% alcohol
Non blood-stained smears are fixed directly in 95% alcohol.
Ting Ying Chee
TG01
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13 comments:
hey Ying!
Have you done the microsocpy yet? Can i ask what is the things in the slides?
Thanks!
cheers,
huimin
tgo1 =)
hey ying..
you mentioned that you used either clarke's stain or 0.9% saline right? which one do you use more often? and if 0.9% saline is equivalent to tap water, why dont jus use tap water since it's obviously cheaper and easier to get? hahaha.
thanks babe.
Nur Azeimah
0607060A
tg02
Hi Azeimah!
You're right; we dont use saline, but tap water instead. Haha. As for the frequency, we tend to use Clarke's solution more (to play safe as Clarke's solution is more potent) :)
Ying Chee
Hi Min,
The med tech and supervisor have shown me some slides :)
The most common things i've seen are the neutophils, esinophils and histocytes. And.. alot of squamous cells. Haha. They basically look like what we had seen in the sch lab, just that they look clearer and nicer. Think it's because of the staining and quantity of those cells.
I've also seen the most common infection (gyanecological)- Candidas (fungi). they look like budding red dots (full-stop size). It's pretty interesting to screen the slides (for learning but not work as it can take you 10 mins for a slide. Screening every single cells under the coverslip)
Ying Chee
Hey Ying Chee,
Ive got 1 quesiton to ask you
Why are Non blood-stained smears fixed directly in 95% alcohol but not in other concentrations?
Thanks!
From: Benjamin Ma
Class: TG01
0606181F
Hi Ying Chee,
Some questions here...
1)What are the differences between histology and cytology (e.g. processing of specimen, reagents used, nature of work and etc)?
2)What is a sputum?
3)What role does acetic acid play in the Clarke's solution?
Thankz!
Han Yang
TG01
I will reply to Han yang 1st 2 questions asked.
You should know the answer from your HisTech subject for your 1st question.
You can read up yourself for the 2nd question. Sputum is a common term used.
1 question to Ying Chee. Is 0.9% NaCl solution the same as tap water?
hey ying!
I see.. haha thats quite interesting! Kkz thanks!
Cheers,
huimin=)
Hi Ms Chew,
Thanks for answering the first 2 Qns.
Tap water is different from 0.9% Saline(commonly known as normal saline).Tap water is an hypotonic solution while 0.9% saline is an isotonic solution. Unlike isotonic solution, the osmostic pressure of tap water can cause cellular oedema and rupture.
Ying Chee
Hi Benjamin and Han Yang,
I'll get back to you again ok? (Asap) Thanks for your understanding.
Hi Benjamin and Han Yang,
I've consulted the Cytotechnicians.
95% alcohol is used because it is the optimum concentration in terms of cellular preservation, staining quality and least cellular shrinkage. Methanol can also be used, but it is toxic and results in greater cellular shrinkage. Some other labs use 50% alcohol to fix sputum. The concentration of alcohol used varies in different labs (cost price and quality factor). The most common fixative used for smears is still 95% alcohol.
Acetic acid has lytic properties and when combined with 95% alcohol, Clarke's solution lyses RBC (acetic acid) and fix the cells at the same time (95% alcohol).
Ying Chee
Hi, thankz for the answer...!
Han Yang
TG01
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