[Histonet] Cellient for cell block preparation

[Joe Myers]

Dr. Cartun:
I’ve worked with the Cellient system in two different labs, with somewhat disappointing results.  Although processing specimens with this system does not employ cross-linking fixatives like formalin - which should (in theory) be ‘beneficial’ to target antigens, in my experience the resulting reactions were less than ideal.  Despite multiple attempts, adjusting various protocol parameters (including ‘skipping‘ the HIER step altogether and using both high- and low-pH retrieval solutions), staining intensity/cellular distribution was never as good as it was in formalin-fixed histologic samples.  My ‘working theory’ is that, since all of the antibodies that were tested were characterized against formalin-fixed and heat-retrieved antigens, it simply wasn’t possible to obtain IHC-comparable results with Cellient-processed (i.e. methanol/isopropanol-fixed cytologic) samples.

Joe Myers, M.S., CT/QIHC(ASCP)



> Subject: [Histonet] Cellient for cell block preparation
> 
> Question - What has been your experience with  Hologic's Cellient instrument for preparing cell block specimens?  I understand that it is very good for pauci-cellular specimens.  However, I am concerned about using these preparations for immunohistochemical and DNA/RNA testing.  Thank you!
> 
> Richard
> 
> Richard W. Cartun, MS, PhD
> Director, Histology & The Martin M. Berman, MD Immunopathology/Morphologic Proteomics Laboratory
> Director, Biospecimen Collection Programs
> Assistant Director, Anatomic Pathology
> Hartford Hospital
> 80 Seymour Street
> Hartford, CT  06102
> (860) 972-1596 (Office)
> (860) 545-2204 (Fax)
> Richard.cartun at hhchealth.org<mailto:Richard.cartun at hhchealth.org>