Histology Educational Series
In the previous blog we saw that every histology laboratory has a method for preparing paraffin cell-block specimens, and we reviewed those methods. This review showed that all of these methods display various deficiencies with regard to collecting and preserving the entirety of the patient specimen with optimal retention of all of the proteomic and genomic information contained within the specimen (1-5).
These issues are discussed in detail in Dr. Shidham’s paper “CellBlockistry: Chemistry and art of cell-block making – A detailed review of various historical options with recent advances.” (6). Dr. Shidham defines CellBlockistry as:
“The science of exploring the chemistry and an art for achieving the best procedural outcome after processing the micro-components present in different types of specimens into the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) blocks.”
The field of histology is changing rapidly. Specimens submitted to the histology laboratory are getting smaller: needle biopsies and cell blocks contain small amounts of cells, while at the same time pathologists and clinicians have access to more and more molecular information that they require to treat their patients. Histologists must learn about these techniques to provide that information. It is our responsibility to keep up with the latest techniques and information to help us provide the highest patient care possible.
A recent original research paper has just been published (7):
Clifford M Chapman (2022)
CelLock TM: an innovative standardized cell-block preparation procedure, Journal of Histotechnology
DOI: 10.1080/01478885.2022.2046683
Published online: 10 Mar 2022.
“CelLockTM is a new kit that standardizes the preparation of formalin fixed paraffin embedded cell-blocks. The kit includes a proprietary product, CelLGelTM, which is used in concert with a proprietary filter to collect and process 99.7% of the initial patient specimen into the cell-block. The filter is included in the cell-block to provide a visual cue to make the tasks of embedding and microtomy easier and more exacting. All of the cellular proteomic and genetic information within the specimen is preserved for immunohistochemical, molecular and ancillary testing.” (8)
As histologists, we are currently asked to provide more and more information from cell and tissue specimens that are getting smaller and smaller. This information relates to proteomic and genomic structures inside the cells, which must be preserved and processed optimally. We are also obliged to provide the entirety of the patient specimen on a slide in an optimal fashion. The loss of any of the original patient specimen is simply not acceptable.
The CelLockTM kit is available from Rankin Biomedical, along with the individual kit components of CelLGelTM and proprietary filters. We encourage you to view the entire article by following this link https://doi.org/10.1080/01478885.2022.2046683 or downloading the article from this website.
The next blog will discuss the specific CelLockTM kit procedure.
References
- Krogerus L. Cell Block in Cytological Diagnostics: Review of Preparatory Techniques. Acta Cytologica. 2018;62:237-243.
- Farrell DJ, Thompson PJ, Morley AR. Tissue artefacts caused by sponges.
J Clin Pathol. 1992. Oct. 45(10):923-4.
- Varsegi GM, Shidham V. Cell Block Preparation from Cytology Specimen with Predominance of Individually Scattered Cells. J Vis Exp. July 2009;(29):1316.
- Bussolati G. A celloidin bag for the histological preparation of cytologic material. J Clin Pathol. 1982;35:574–6.
- Krogerus L. Cell Block in Cytological Diagnostics: Review of Preparatory Techniques. Acta Cytologica. 2018;62:237-243.
- Shidham VB. CellBlockistry: Chemistry and art of cell-block making – A detailed review of various historical options with recent advances. Cytojournal. June 2019; 16:12.
- Clifford M Chapman (2022): CelLock TM: an innovative standardized cell-block preparation procedure, Journal of Histotechnology, DOI: 10.1080/01478885.2022.2046683.
- CAP Today. In press.
In accordance with my ethical obligation as a researcher, I am reporting that I have a financial and business interest in a company (Source Medical Products, Inc., Lake Bluff, IL) that may be affected by the research reported in the submitted paper.
Questions and comments may be sent to the author directly.
Clifford Chapman
HTL(ASCP), QIHC (ASCP)
Senior Consultant, Medi-Sci Consultants
Clifford Chapman is the Technical Specialist / Education Coordinator of Strata Pathology Services, Lexington, MA. His responsibilities include in house training of laboratory personnel, performing in services and competencies for laboratory staff, clinical mentoring of Harford Community College On Line Histology students, quality management of laboratory operations, supervisor of Immunohistochemistry and Molecular Laboratories. Cliff received his Master Degree in Botany from the University of Milwaukee, WI and his Bachelors in Biology from Lowell State College, Lowell, MA. Cliff has worked on publications including ‘Histology Hardball: Solutions for Hard Tissue,’ in Advance for Medical Laboratory Professionals.
