[Histonet] Re; Decal Process From the Past

[Akemi Allison-Tacha]

Hi Paul,

I appreciate your courteous reply to the older methodologies, but as I stated, this was just "throwing an additional tidbit into the mix".  As you are most likely aware, histology in the past was not considered an exact science.  Histotech's referred to formula's as recipes and the results for the most part, depended on the phase on the moon and the technical skill and knowledge of the individual.  Most of the histotech's I ran a crossed in the 60's, 70's, 80's and even the 90's were OJT.  There are histotech's that are still following method's that were passed on to them years and years ago and aren't sure why.  

This procedure was for larger bone specimens.  We never put BM cores into RDO, that solution was much too harsh for such a fragile specimen.  For BM cores, we used a gentle decal solution that had EDTA incorporated into it. It usually only took a half hour and we never left it longer than an hour.   We rinsed the decalcified BM core in running tap water, then placed it on the processor. 

When I started doing technical support for a biotech company, I became aware of the "old recipes" and variations in adhering to set procedures. There were a number of histotech's that had NO idea why they were doing a procedure, or how each chemical step impacted the final result. These histotech's had no clue of what theory and practice was all about.  It was a wonderful opportunity to try to help my fellow histologists in any way possible and gave me a opportunity to grow as well.  A day does not go by that I don't grow and learn something new. 

Akemi Allison-Tacha, BS, HT(ASCP)HTL
Client Services Manager
PhenoPath laboratories
551 North 34th Street, Suite 100 
Seattle, WA 98103-8675
Work: (206) 374-9000 ext 1053
E-Mail: akemiat3377 <@t> yahoo.com


--- On Tue, 5/6/08, Paul Bradbury <histology.bc <@t> shaw.ca> wrote:

> From: Paul Bradbury <histology.bc <@t> shaw.ca>
> Subject: [Histonet] Re; RINSING IN TAP WATER AFTER DECAL
> To: "HistoNet Server" <histonet <@t> pathology.swmed.edu>
> Date: Tuesday, May 6, 2008, 11:40 PM
> With all due respect to Akemi, the practice of
> "neutralizing" the 
> decalcifying acid by treating the tissue with saturated
> sodium 
> bicarbonate is not a good idea.
> In her e-mail she states that "The tissue fizzes a bit
> ..." no surprise 
> there. Trying to retain good morphology in bone biopsy core
> is difficult 
> enough without disrupting the tissues with bubbles of
> carbon dioxide. A 
> bone core is usually only 2-3 mm in diameter, so washing
> out the 
> decalcifying fluid will take only a few minutes. Once the
> acid has been 
> removed, decalcification will stop.
> Paul Bradbury
> Kamloops, Canada
> 
> ******************************************************************
> 
> > Akemi Allison-Tacha wrote:
> >> Hi All,
> >>
> >> I am going to put an additional tidbit into the
> mix. I was instructed many many moons ago, (back in 1974)
> to 1st rinse off any residual RDO or decal solution with a
> brief rinse in tap water and then place the decal specimens
> into saturated sodium bicarbonate for 10 minutes to stop the
> decal process, otherwise the specimen will continue to
> decal. The tissue fizzes a bit, when this reaction ceases,
> then rinse in running tap water for an additional 10
> minutes. 
> >>
> >> Akemi Allison-Tacha, BS, HT(ASCP)HTL
> >> Client Services Manager
> >> PhenoPath laboratories
> >> 551 North 34th Street, Suite 100 
> >> Seattle, WA 98103-8675
> >> Work: (206) 374-9000 ext 1053
> >> E-Mail: akemiat3377 <@t> yahoo.com
> >>
> >>     
> 
> 
> 
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