Methods for fixing cytological samples
View Patent ↗A method of fixing a biological sample on a slide for cytological analysis, includes transferring a sample to a slide, applying a material having a slide-fixing amount of an inactivated, fixative to the slide, and activating the fixative. By way of example, the material may comprise a tape impregnated with the inactivated fixative, which tape may be removed from the slide after the fixative is activated.
1. A method of fixing a biological sample to a slide, comprising:
(a) transferring a biological sample to a slide;
(b) applying a fixative carrier material to the biological sample and slide obtained from step (a), the fixative carrier material comprising a slide-fixing amount of an inactivated fixative;
(c) activating said inactivated fixative; and,
(d) removing the fixative carrier material from the slide while retaining the activated fixative on the slide.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amount of the inactivated fixative is between 0.01 mL and 50 mL.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the amount of the inactivated fixative is about 20 mL.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said activating comprises applying heat to the slide obtained from step (b).
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said activating comprises applying a chemical activator of said inactivated fixative to the slide obtained from step (b).
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said activating comprises applying light to the slide obtained from step (b).
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said applying light comprises exposing the slide from step (b) to ultra-violet light.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said fixative carrier material comprises a tape impregnated with the inactivated fixative.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein removing said fixative carrier material comprises removing said fixative carrier material with water.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein removing said fixative carrier material comprises removing said fixative carrier material with a slide-staining solution.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein removing said fixative carrier material comprises removing said fixative carrier material with both water and a slide-staining solution.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein removing said fixative carrier material comprises physically removing said fixative carrier material.
13. A method of fixing a biological sample, comprising:
(a) transferring a biological sample to a slide;
(b) applying a fixative carrier material to the biological sample and slide obtained from step (a), the fixative carrier material comprising a slide-fixing amount of an inactivated fixative;
(c) activating said inactivated fixative by applying heat to the slide, exposing the slide to light treatment, or treating the slide with a chemical; and,
(d) removing the fixative carrier material from the slide while retaining the activated fixative on the slide.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said exposing the slide to light comprises exposing the slide from step (b) to ultra-violet light.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein said fixative carrier material comprises a tape impregnated with the inactivated fixative.
16. A method of fixing a biological sample, comprising:
(a) transferring a biological sample to a slide;
(b) applying a tape to the biological sample and slide obtained from step (a), said tape being impregnated with a slide-fixing amount of an inactivated fixative;
(c) activating said inactivated fixative by applying heat to the slide, exposing the slide to light, or treating the slide with a chemical; and,
(d) removing said tape from the slide such that the activated fixative is retained on the slide after removing said tape.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein said activating comprises exposing the slide to ultra-violet light.