Description
Why It’s Done:
• To prepare tissue samples for microscopic examination, which helps in diagnosing a variety of conditions such as cancer, infections, and inflammatory diseases
• To allow pathologists to perform staining techniques on the tissue sections to highlight specific features (e.g., abnormal cells)
• To assist in surgical pathology to determine whether additional treatment or intervention is required
• To provide essential information in medical research for studying tissue characteristics and disease processes
Preparation:
• No special preparation is typically required from the patient, as the tissue sample is collected during a biopsy or surgery.
• The tissue is processed in the lab, where it is fixed, dehydrated, and embedded in paraffin wax before being sliced into thin sections for mounting on slides.
• If you’re having a biopsy or surgical procedure, follow any pre-procedure instructions provided by your healthcare provider.
