[Histonet] demonstration of asbestos by means of electron microscopy

[Rene J Buesa]

Many years ago asbestos fibers were demonstrated in hypochlorite digested tissues. The remaining material was filtered through Milllipore filter, washed and the fibers observed with polarized light.
The Perl's method will stain no the asbestos fibers (that cannot be stained) but a reactive capsule the tissues secrete around the fiber, so it is an indirect method based in: if there is a tissue reaction to asbestos, they should have been present at a certain moment.
As to its demonstration with EM I do not know but I think it will be very difficult to infiltrate the fibers in Epoxi resin to be cut. If you are able to do that: how are you going to identify an extremely thin section of asbestos?
I think that you should either try the tissue digestion or give another try at the Perl reaction.
René J.

--- On Tue, 11/22/11, Yolanda Davies <yolanda.davies <@t> uct.ac.za> wrote:


From: Yolanda Davies <yolanda.davies <@t> uct.ac.za>
Subject: [Histonet] demonstration of asbestos by means of electron microscopy
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Date: Tuesday, November 22, 2011, 4:14 AM


Dear all

I am a histotechnologist in forensics, Cape Town, South Africa.
I received a request to show asbestos in lung tissue where there is
definite interstitial fibrosis, but the presence of asbestos is not
clear.

Is it possible to reveal asbestos by means of electron microscopy?

Usually asbestos is demonstrated using the Perl's Prussian blue
technique, but most times they are elusive.
Could it be because of the sampling site or simply the nature of the
asbestos?

Thank you in advance

Yolanda Davies
Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
Falmouth building
Anzio Road
Observatory
Cape Town 
South Africa




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