[Histonet] Colloidin? No!!

[mtitford <@t> aol.com]

Michele Carr asks about using colloidin for cell block preparation. Years ago, histology labs would coat the inside of a glass test tube will colloidin (maybe 1% dissolved in 50:50 absolute alcohol and ether) and allow it to dry. When they needed to make a cell block, they poured the solution containing the cells in the test tube and spun it down. The aquous solution caused the colloidin to separate from the glass. you could pour off the solution and wrap the cell pellet up in the softened celloidin and put it in a cassette for routine processing. However, times have changed! Using celloidin (nitrated cellulose or gun cotton) is dangerous and the alcohol ether solvent is also dangerous.
I think cytology labs use a jell called "histogel" or something in which they capture cell blocks. Maybe there is a decent cytology lab in your area that uses this product or a similier one you can try.

Michael Titford
USA Pathology 
Mobile AL USA