Alginate encapsulated cell blocks improve diagnostic consistency and long term specimen integrity in routine pathological diagnostics and cancer research.

ABSTRACT: Cell blocks help preserve cytological material and facilitate ancillary diagnostics, but their accuracy is often compromised by uneven cell distribution and interference with immunohistochemical staining. We present an internally validated protocol for alginate-encapsulated cell blocks, which have been successfully used in routine pathology and during cancer research studies. Harvested cells were suspended in phosphate-buffered saline and centrifuged. Cell pellets were mixed with an alginate solution, immersed in 0.1 M calcium chloride to form conglomerates, fixed in 10% buffered formalin, processed in a tissue processor, embedded in paraffin, sectioned, and subjected to routine diagnostic protocols. Implementing alginate-encapsulated cell blocks in our laboratory allowed for the evaluatio

SUBMITTER: Borowczak J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12568939 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature