Technical note: improved preparation of fine needle aspiration biopsies for transmission electron microscopy

An improved method of cell concentration for ultramicrotomy is described. It is based on centrifugation of glutaraldehyde-fixed fine needle aspirates in 10% bovine albumin. Sampling of comparatively small numbers of tumour cells or tissue fragments is enhanced, particularly in the presence of heavy blood contamination. This results in a marked improvement in the proportion of diagnostically useful electron microscopic assessments.