This presentation defines 5 histological and cytological instruments used in the laboratories which are flow cytometry, cytocentrifuge, microtome, biological microscope, tissue flotation bath.

1. Prepared by:
Radwan Rushdi Mohammed
Histology & Cytology
Instruments

2. Flow
Flow cytometry is an
instrument used to detect
and measure physical and
chemical characteristics of
a population of cells or
particles
Uses for flow cytometry include:
 Cell Counting
 Cell Sorting
 Diagnosis of health disorders such as
Blood Cancers
A diagram of the principle of flow cytometry
Cytometry

3.  Used to concentrate cells in liquid specimens onto a microscope
slide so that they can be stained and examined
 Used in various areas of the clinical laboratory such as:
 Cytopathology
 Hematology
 Microbiology
 As well as in biological research
The method can be used on many different types of specimens
including:
1) Fine needle aspirates
2) Cerebrospinal fluid
3) Serous
4) Synovial fluid
5) Urine
Cytocentrifuge
A cytocentrifuge, sometimes referred to as a cytospin is a specialized centrifuge

4. Microtome
Microtome is a tool that can be used in histology laboratories to cut embedded tissue to produce
very thin slices (usually 4 µm but can be 2-10 µm) by using some techniques
Types of microtome:
 Hand microtome
 Rotational microtome
 Sledge microtome
 Cryostat (freezing microtome)
 Ultra microtome
Parts of microtome:
There are different microtomes but
they all consist of three main parts:
Base (microtome body)
Material or tissue
holder
Knife attachment and blade

5. Biological microscope is a very common instrument in histology and generally is a type of optical
microscope that is primarily designed to observe cells, tissues, and other biological specimens
which gives these microscopes a magnification that can range anywhere from 10x - 1,000x or more
Microscope is important because biology mainly deals with the
studying cells (and their contents) and genes and all creatures
Biological microscope
Various types of microscopes in biology are:
 Stereoscope
 Confocal
 Transmission Electron Microscope
 Scanning Electron Microscope

6. Tissue flotation bath
Tissue flotation bath is required after the step of cutting paraffin sections and before these are
placed on slides. It lets tissues relax and smoothen before being mounted on slide as well as makes
paraffin stick to the slide
It used for accurate control of different samples at constant temperature
it is best possible for tissue culture enzyme by controlling the temperature
The lab tissue flotation bath consists of four parts:
1-A black coated aluminum
2-A room with the outer body made of galvanized steel sheet
3-Dually powder coated
4-The black covering inside make sure easy viewing of the
floating tissues