MOTHER NOTES

• Histopathologic Techniques deal with the preparation for microscopic examination.
• Histopathologic Techniques are accomplished by submitting the total or a selected part of the tissue presented for examination to a series of processes: FDD-CIET-SSML.
• Examination may be done on Fresh Tissues, which are usually examined when there is an immediate need for evaluation.
• Examination may also be done on Preserved Tissues, which are routinely done in the histopathology section.
• Advantage of examining in the fresh state is that it allows protoplasmic activities such as motion, cellular movement, mitosis, phagocytosis, and pinocytosis.
• Animals used for the production of polyclonal antibodies include rabbit, goat, pig, sheep, horse, and guinea pig, with the rabbit being the most commonly used.
• Immunohistochemical techniques are used to identify specific or highly selective cellular epitopes or antigens in frozen or paraffin-embedded tissues.
• Immunohistochemical techniques make use of antigen–antibody interactions, whereby the site of antigen binding is demonstrated by direct labeling of the antibody, or by means of a secondary labeling method.
• Polyclonal antibodies are not identical to each other.
• Polyclonal antibodies are produced by immunizing an animal with a purified specific molecule (immunogen) that contains an antigen of interest and collecting immunoglobulin-rich serum.
• Disadvantage of examining in the fresh state is that its use has been limited due to the fact that tissues examined in the fresh state are not permanent and therefore, are liable to develop the changes that have usually been observed after death.
• Autolysis is the destruction of the tissues by enzymes which are produced by the tissues and eventually liquefy it, and is the first to occur among all post-mortem changes.
• Putrefaction or Decomposition is the decomposition of organic matter under the influence of microorganisms accompanied by the development of disagreeable odors, and is the second to occur among all post-mortem changes.
• The Manila Public Health Laboratory, located on Quiricada st., Sta. Cruz, Manila, was the first clinical laboratory in the Philippines, introduced by the 26th Medical Laboratory of the 6th US army at the end of the 2nd World War.
• University of Santo Tomas, Centro Escolar University, and Far Eastern University adopted the Medical Technology course in 1957, 1960, and 1962 respectively.
• The PAMET hymn was written by Francis Jerota Pefanco and the melody and music were created by Wilma Hilgert-Hedrick.
• The PAMET Hymn was composed by Francis Jerota Pefranco with lyrics by Hector Gantapanan Gayares, Jr.
• AUP (Old: PUC) was the first school to offer a Medical Technology course in the Philippines, approved by DepEd in 1953.
• Dr. Alfredo Pio de Roda and Dr. Prudencia Sta. Ana are recognized as the founders of Medical Technology education in the Philippines.
• Jesse Umali was the first graduate of PUC and is now the owner of Omega Lab.
• Celloidin wax/collodion impregnation is another method, suitable for specimens containing large cavities or hollow spaces which tend to collapse, for hard and dense tissues (bones and teeth) and for large tissue sections of the whole embryos.
• Embedding, also known as casting or blocking, is the process by which the impregnated tissue is placed into a precisely arranged position in a mold containing a medium, then allowed to solidify.
• The ideal volume for impregnation is at least 25x the volume of the tissue.
• Gelatin impregnation is rarely used except when dehydration is to be avoided and when tissues are to be subjected to histochemical and enzyme studies.
• Impregnation, also known as infiltration, is the process where the clearing agent is completely removed from the tissue and replaced by a medium that will fill all-natural cavities, spaces, and interstices of the tissues, even the spaces within the constituent cells, and that will set to a sufficiently firm consistency to allow the cutting of suitably thin sections without undue distortion and without alteration of the spatial relationships of the tissue and cellular elements.
• Paraffin wax impregnation is the simplest, most common, and by far the best for routine use, with a melting point of 54-58 o C.
• Degeneration is a retrogressive pathologic process in cells in which the cytoplasm deteriorates while the nucleus is preserved, and is the third to occur among all post-mortem changes.
• Teasing or Dissociation is a process where selected tissue specimen is immersed in a watch glass containing isotonic salt solution (alternative: NSS or Ringer’s Lactate), carefully dissected or separated and examined under the microscope, either unstained by Phase Contrast microscope or Bright-field microscope or stained with differential dyes.
• I restrict my praises, criticisms, and opinions within constructive limits and do not use the knowledge I know for selfish ends.
• As a Medical Technologist, I accept the responsibilities inherent to being a professional and uphold the law, not engaging in illegal work nor cooperating with anyone so engaged.
• I accept employment from more than one employer only when there is no conflict of interest.
• I avoid associating or being identified with any enterprise of questionable character.
• I review the professional work of other medical technologists, when requested, fairly and in confidence whether they are subordinates or employees, authors of proposals for grants or contracts, authors of technical papers or other publications or involved in litigation.
• I treat any information I acquired about individuals in the course of my work as strictly confidential, and may be divulged only to authorized persons or entities or with consent of the individual when necessary.
• I work and act in a strict spirit of fairness to employer, clients, contractors, employees and in a spirit of personal helpfulness and fraternity toward other members of the profession.
• I perform professional work in a manner that merits full confidence and trust, carried out with absolute reliability, accuracy, fairness, and honesty.
• I use only honorable means of competition for professional employment or services and refrain from unfairly injuring, directly or indirectly, the professional reputation, projects, or business of a fellow medical technologist.
• I report any infractions of these principles of professional conduct to the authorities responsible of enforcement of applicable laws or regulations, or to the Ethics Committee of the Philippine Association of Medical Technologists as may be appropriate.
• To these principles, I hereby subscribe and pledge to conduct myself at all times in a manner befitting of my profession.
• I advance the profession by exchanging general information and experience with fellow medical technologists and other professionals and by contributing to the work of professional organizations.