Tissue Imaging Technique Using Reflectance Microscopy

Abstract

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have developed a method for imaging a tissue sample using white-light reflectance microsopy.

Full Description

Traditionally, formalin-fixation and paraffin-embedding (FFPE) tissue processing with microtome sectioning and staining have proven to be the most practical and logistically-feasible method for handling, preserving, and evaluating tumor samples. However, FFPE-based processing is sub-optimal for molecular assays and cannot be used for certain applications due to its inherent limitations related to fixative, heat, and solvent-induced nucleic acid fragmentation and degradation. In addition, diagnosticians are confronted by two serious challenges: (1) the increasing number and complexity of ancillary molecular diagnostic tests; and (2) the requirements for these tests to use ever-smaller biopsy samples. These shortcomings demonstrate the need for more effective tissue preparation and diagnostic methods that do not require FFPE.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have developed a method for imaging a tissue sample using reflectance microscopy. Light is used to illuminates a stained tissue sample, which can  be thick, fresh, or fixed, but unsectioned tissue. This technique allows for analysis within minutes of acquiring a tissue specimen. Sample preparation steps such as dehydration, paraffin-embedding, sectioning, and mounting the sample on slides are not required, thus reducing both the time and costs associated with acquiring high-quality tissue images.

Applications

•    Rapid analysis of a wide variety of tissue specimens

Features/Benefits

• Images are brighter than those produced by current slide-free technologies
• Allows use of high-magnification lenses
• Imaging times in the low-milliseconds/frame, allowing for much faster large-field-of view imaging
• Compatible with immunofluorescence reagents
• More affordable than existing methods that achieve similar-quality images

Patent Status