Ultra-rapid microwave-stimulated tissue processing with a modified protocol incorporating microwave fixation

Area of Science:

• Histopathology
• Biotechnology
• Medical Laboratory Science

Background:

• Conventional tissue processing is time-consuming, often exceeding 24 hours.
• Existing microwave-assisted methods may introduce artifacts, especially in larger tissue samples.
• Optimizing histoprocessing is crucial for timely diagnostic and research applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an ultra-rapid microwave (MW)-stimulated histoprocessing protocol.
• To incorporate MW fixation for enhanced speed and quality.
• To achieve consistent, high-quality tissue sections from both small and large blocks.

Main Methods:

• Tissues were divided into three groups: conventional processing, manufacturer's MW protocol, and a novel MW protocol.
• The novel protocol included MW fixation in formaldehyde and MW irradiation in isopropyl alcohol.
• Comparison of processing times, artifact occurrence, and section quality.

Main Results:

• The manufacturer's MW protocol produced artifacts in large tissue blocks.
• The novel MW protocol yielded sections indistinguishable from conventional methods, without artifacts.
• Histochemical and immunohistochemical staining results were comparable to conventional processing.

Conclusions:

• The developed MW histoprocessing protocol ensures consistent, high-quality results for all tissue block sizes.
• This protocol significantly reduces processing time, enabling paraffin-impregnated blocks in as little as 45 minutes (small) and 100 minutes (large).
• The optimized protocol enhances efficiency in histopathological workflows.