1. WHY DO YOU PERFORM CELL BLOCKING?

EXPLAIN WELL

- We perform cell blocking because it can be used for diagnosis when cancer is suspected or to provide
evidence of metastatic disease. Used also when performing Papanicolaou smear preparation to obtain samples,
moreover cell blocking can transform fluid samples (CSF, urine, & more) into solid for a better microscopic
examination that helps pathologist analyze the cytological structures of every specimen to give proper judgment
on how to treat or care the patient. Cell blocking is also a bridge to do special staining (ex: congo stain &
mucicarmine stain), morphology evaluation, molecular diagnostics and to do immunohistochemistry.

2. DISCUSS THE DIFFERENT CONDITIONS WHERE CELL BLOCKING IS RECOMMENDED.

- Cell blocking is recommended during the analyzation of body fluids like urine, CSF, FNA, sputum, and many
more. Due to the liquid form of these samples cell blocking is a must because its procedures captures the
cytologic features of the liquid samples from their sediments after centrifugation and other processes until it
becomes a solid block that will be soon put into a slide for microscopic studies.

3. ENUMERATE AND DESCRIBE THE DIFFERENT METHODS OF PERFORMING CELL BLOCK.

1. Plasma thrombin

- This is the most popularly used cell block method. The cell block is prepared from the pellet of centrifuged cell
suspension by adding plasma and thrombin to enmesh the cellular material in a clot

2. Agar gel method

- The concentrated sediment is supported by the agar & is more time consuming. However it creates excellent
block, various cells are distributed in a layers for optimal visualization.

3. This technique is used for cytology specimens with a predominance of individually scattered cells. The
protocol involves steps to concentrate the cells of interest along the plane parallel to the cutting surface of the
cell block. This technique can be used for cell block preparations of cervical ThinPreps, which are usually less
cellular and may contain only scattered individual abnormal cells.

4. EXPLAIN THE ADVANTAGE AND THE DISADVANTAGE OF CELL BLOCKING.

Advantages:

* Storage of cell blocks are easily compared to unstained smear

* Slides more readily interpretable by histopathologist

* Availability of cell blocks facilitates more section

* It is reproducible, simple, readily available in routine lab & concentrated in small area of slide

Disadvantages:

* Sparse cellularity, meaning cells are scattered hence it will take some time to diagnose the patient
* It is time consuming compared to routine smears due to its hectic procedure

* It distorts artifacts and many important information that needs to be analyzed microscopically

References:

Today, C. (2018, July 13). Cytopathology in focus: Cell blocks: Getting the most from the least
invasive method. CAP TODAY. Retrieved November 18, 2022, from
https://www.captodayonline.com/cytopathology-cell-blocks-getting-least-invasive-method/

Manan Shah Follow. (n.d.). Utility of cell block in cytology. Share and Discover Knowledge on
SlideShare. Retrieved November 18, 2022, from
https://www.slideshare.net/MananShah133/utility-of-cell-block-in-cytology-86108279

Khan, S., Omar, T., & Michelow, P. (2012, July). Effectiveness of the cell block technique in
diagnostic cytopathology. Journal of cytology. Retrieved November 18, 2022, from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3480766/

HSTCYT recorded lecture