10 Eberechukwu et al. 2023 | Journal of Applied Health Sciences and Medicine | Volume: 3(1) | Page Research Article The Effect of Rapid Tissue Processing on Fixation Time Using Microwave Techniques God’sman Chidugam Eberechukwu 1* , Amalachukwu O. Ike 1[ORCID] , Gift C. Okwusike 1 , and Ibiere Allwell Pepple 2 1 Department of Medical Laboratory Science, PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, Nigeria 2 Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Science, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Abstract: The quest for a faster means of tissue processing has been on the increase to accomplish the needs of medical scientists, especially for treating patients with critical health conditions. Specimens were processed using different schedules at different temperatures to ascertain the effect of rapid tissue processing on fixation time. A domestic microwave model of MW007GA-MG823 (W)/MW- MB0823MP, rated voltage: 230V5 0HZ was used for the study. A total of four (4) organs were used, each divided into two, one part processed with the microwave and the other processed with the conventional method. The rapid technique started without prior routine fixation, except a schedule that was fixed for nine (9) hours before the rapid process started at a temperature of 42°C following dehydration, clearing of tissues was carried out with isopropanol. Fixation times for the rapid schedules are 30 and 20 minutes. An independent t-test conducted between the rapid and conventional techniques showed Mean±SD = 30±2.00 mins, Mean±SD = 20±2.00 mins, and Mean±SD = 2880±2.00 mins respectively at p = 0.00 depicting statistical significance. The rapid technique produced sections of good quality without compromising the tissue architecture. Isopropanol could be used as a clearing agent instead of xylene as it is inflammable in the microwave. Keywords: rapid tissue processing, fixation time, microwave technique, turnaround time, histological quality. 1. Introduction Microwave mediated tissue processing is employed as an alternative means of providing treatment for patients. Conventional tissue processing and fixation cause delay in result generation and treatment for those living with critical health conditions (Rohr et al. 2021). According to (Pranab 2018), fixation is the process by which the cells in the tissue are fixed in a chemical and physical state, and all the biochemical and proteolytic activities within the cells are prevented so that the cells or tissues can resist any morphological change, distortion, or decomposition after subse- quent treatment with various reagents. Rapid fixation and processing with the microwave reduces turnaround time, giving way for faster pathologic diagnosis (Rohr et al. 2021). The time required for fixation, decalcification, processing and staining can be distinctly reduced via microwave irradiation. Increased microwave irradiation results Journal of Applied Health Sciences and Medicine 3(1): 10 –20 www.jpub.org How to cite: Eberechukwu et al. 2023. “The Effect of Rapid Tissue Processing on Fixation Time Using Microwave Techniques”. Journal of Applied Health Sciences and Medicine. 3(1): 10 – 20. https://doi.org/10.58614/jah sm312 Received: December 15, 2022 Accepted: January 14, 2023 Published: January 28, 2023 Corresponding author: God’sman Chidugam Eberechukwu © 2023 by the authors. The terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence apply to this open access article