|
Tape Stripping
Flexible, transparent adhesive tape provides a quick and very robust
method of collecting material from the skin surface and demonstrating
the presence of parasites, hair abnormalities and cytology. It can
also be used to trap loose material, including parasites, on the
skin or in coat brushings.
|
|
|
|
- Image quality can be equivalent to that obtained with
glass slides
- Sites can be sampled where it would be impossible or dangerous
to use a slide e.g. interdigital spaces
- However, tape must be selected which will resist degradation
by the fixatives and stains used.
Cellophane is unsuitable. Scotch brand tape is normally
suitable as long as it is uniformly transparent. Some tapes
will become milky after staining and it is wise to test
each batch of tape before placing it in the clinic for use
- Where the tape is not to be stained, only translucency
is important
|
|
Choose your tape carefully
|
|
In the video clips we show preparation for sampling, the stripping
process, staining of the tape with DiffQuik
and mounting ready for examination.
Preparing
the tape (572Kb)
Stripping
the skin (192Kb)
Staining
the tape (426Kb)
Mounting
for examination (380Kb)
Examination of tape strips
- Scan at low power. No coverslip is needed as the specimen is
on the sticky side, which is against the glass slide; the upper
surface of the tape acts as its own coverslip
- Apply immersion oil directly to the tape for high power examination
with the immersion objective
|
|
|
|
|