Diagnostic from a pathology lab: why does it take so long? \u23f1\ufe0f<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The #pathology<\/a> lab plays a key role in the #diagnosis<\/a> and prognosis of many diseases, but for many people what happens there is a mystery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here, we are going to show you the itinerary of a tissue biopsy:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1\ufe0f\u20e3 Fixation & Processing. 2\ufe0f\u20e3 Sectioning. The sample is now in a hard paraffin wax block and must be cut in sections of 5 micrometres. 3\ufe0f\u20e3 Labelling. The glass slide can now be labelled with dyes or antibodies. This will highlight specific features of the sample. (From 1 to 12 hours)<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4\ufe0f\u20e3 Analysis at the #Microscope<\/a>. The pathologist will examine it for indications of disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thank you to \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf8 Cristina Sala Ripoll<\/a>, a freelance scientific illustrator who loves to create infographics and colorful images for science outreach and education.
The sample can\u2019t be used as it is, it has to undergo a number of preparatory steps: fixation to preserve its integrity ( 24-48 hours) and a series of solvents including paraffin wax (12 hours)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each section will end up in a glass slide (1 hour)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This illustration was created for the Pathology department at the University Medical Center Groningen, with the collaboration of Dr. Wilfred den Dunnen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n