Optimizing preparation of renal biopsy specimens for TEM: a time-efficient approach to rapid diagnosis of kidney diseases

Electron microscopic examination of renal biopsies is crucial for the diagnosis of kidney disease. In this study, we present an optimized protocol that significantly reduces processing time to 19.5 h, compared to 120 h with conventional methods, while preserving ultrastructural quality in 55 renal b...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Gen Wang, Xiaodong Zhu, Shaoshan Liang, Feng Xu, Dandan Liang, Caihong Zeng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Renal Failure
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/0886022X.2025.2522325
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849417614452850688
author Gen Wang
Xiaodong Zhu
Shaoshan Liang
Feng Xu
Dandan Liang
Caihong Zeng
author_facet Gen Wang
Xiaodong Zhu
Shaoshan Liang
Feng Xu
Dandan Liang
Caihong Zeng
author_sort Gen Wang
collection DOAJ
description Electron microscopic examination of renal biopsies is crucial for the diagnosis of kidney disease. In this study, we present an optimized protocol that significantly reduces processing time to 19.5 h, compared to 120 h with conventional methods, while preserving ultrastructural quality in 55 renal biopsy specimens. The modified method incorporates the use of higher concentrations of fixatives, shortened fixation duration, low-viscosity resin embedding, and the application of uncoated copper grids. Comparative analysis of renal specimens processed using conventional and optimized methods demonstrated equivalent preservation of critical ultrastructural features, including the glomerular basement membranes, podocytes and tubular epithelium. The total processing time was markedly reduced to 19.5 h, compared to several days with conventional methods. This rapid protocol enables timely ultrastructural evaluation of renal biopsies to facilitate prompt diagnosis and decision-making, highlighting the significance of optimizing diagnostic pathology methodologies for enhancing efficiency and maintaining accuracy.
format Article
id doaj-art-ca7642b0b78a4f96976cfa900b085596
institution Kabale University
issn 0886-022X
1525-6049
language English
publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Renal Failure
spelling doaj-art-ca7642b0b78a4f96976cfa900b0855962025-08-20T03:32:45ZengTaylor & Francis GroupRenal Failure0886-022X1525-60492025-12-0147110.1080/0886022X.2025.2522325Optimizing preparation of renal biopsy specimens for TEM: a time-efficient approach to rapid diagnosis of kidney diseasesGen Wang0Xiaodong Zhu1Shaoshan Liang2Feng Xu3Dandan Liang4Caihong Zeng5National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, ChinaNational Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, ChinaNational Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, ChinaNational Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, ChinaNational Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, ChinaNational Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, ChinaElectron microscopic examination of renal biopsies is crucial for the diagnosis of kidney disease. In this study, we present an optimized protocol that significantly reduces processing time to 19.5 h, compared to 120 h with conventional methods, while preserving ultrastructural quality in 55 renal biopsy specimens. The modified method incorporates the use of higher concentrations of fixatives, shortened fixation duration, low-viscosity resin embedding, and the application of uncoated copper grids. Comparative analysis of renal specimens processed using conventional and optimized methods demonstrated equivalent preservation of critical ultrastructural features, including the glomerular basement membranes, podocytes and tubular epithelium. The total processing time was markedly reduced to 19.5 h, compared to several days with conventional methods. This rapid protocol enables timely ultrastructural evaluation of renal biopsies to facilitate prompt diagnosis and decision-making, highlighting the significance of optimizing diagnostic pathology methodologies for enhancing efficiency and maintaining accuracy.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/0886022X.2025.2522325Renal biopsyelectron microscopyspecimen preparationrapid diagnosiskidney disease
spellingShingle Gen Wang
Xiaodong Zhu
Shaoshan Liang
Feng Xu
Dandan Liang
Caihong Zeng
Optimizing preparation of renal biopsy specimens for TEM: a time-efficient approach to rapid diagnosis of kidney diseases
Renal Failure
Renal biopsy
electron microscopy
specimen preparation
rapid diagnosis
kidney disease
title Optimizing preparation of renal biopsy specimens for TEM: a time-efficient approach to rapid diagnosis of kidney diseases
title_full Optimizing preparation of renal biopsy specimens for TEM: a time-efficient approach to rapid diagnosis of kidney diseases
title_fullStr Optimizing preparation of renal biopsy specimens for TEM: a time-efficient approach to rapid diagnosis of kidney diseases
title_full_unstemmed Optimizing preparation of renal biopsy specimens for TEM: a time-efficient approach to rapid diagnosis of kidney diseases
title_short Optimizing preparation of renal biopsy specimens for TEM: a time-efficient approach to rapid diagnosis of kidney diseases
title_sort optimizing preparation of renal biopsy specimens for tem a time efficient approach to rapid diagnosis of kidney diseases
topic Renal biopsy
electron microscopy
specimen preparation
rapid diagnosis
kidney disease
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/0886022X.2025.2522325
work_keys_str_mv AT genwang optimizingpreparationofrenalbiopsyspecimensfortematimeefficientapproachtorapiddiagnosisofkidneydiseases
AT xiaodongzhu optimizingpreparationofrenalbiopsyspecimensfortematimeefficientapproachtorapiddiagnosisofkidneydiseases
AT shaoshanliang optimizingpreparationofrenalbiopsyspecimensfortematimeefficientapproachtorapiddiagnosisofkidneydiseases
AT fengxu optimizingpreparationofrenalbiopsyspecimensfortematimeefficientapproachtorapiddiagnosisofkidneydiseases
AT dandanliang optimizingpreparationofrenalbiopsyspecimensfortematimeefficientapproachtorapiddiagnosisofkidneydiseases
AT caihongzeng optimizingpreparationofrenalbiopsyspecimensfortematimeefficientapproachtorapiddiagnosisofkidneydiseases