ISO/TS 21310:2025 PDF

Traditional Chinese medicine — Microscopic examination of medicinal herbs

First page of standard ISO/TS 21310:2025

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Title (English):

ISO/TS 21310:2025

Traditional Chinese medicine — Microscopic examination of medicinal herbs

Document status:: Active
Format:: Electronic (PDF)
Number of pages:: 10
Publication date:: June 18, 2025
Edition:: ISO TS 21310 edition 2 version 1
ICS:: 11.120.10

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Description (English):

This document specifies the methods for microscopic examination of medicinal herbs. It covers the equipment, sampling, preparation and observation methods. This document is applicable to medicinal herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine, including Chinese materia medica (whole medicinal materials) and decoction pieces derived from plants. It is not applicable to medicinal materials derived from animals or minerals.

Technical details

Technical committee: ISO/TC 249 - Traditional Chinese medicine
SKU: ISO/TS 21310:2025

Abstract

Overview

ISO/TS 21310:2025 - Traditional Chinese medicine - Microscopic examination of medicinal herbs is a Technical Specification from ISO/TC 249 that defines standardized methods for microscopic analysis of plant-derived medicinal herbs and decoction pieces used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The document covers equipment, sampling, slide and powder preparation, mounting and swelling agents, observation procedures and test reporting. It applies to plant materials only (not animal or mineral materials) and updates the 2020 edition with revised sampling references and editorial improvements.

Key topics and technical requirements

Scope and sampling
- Sampling follows ISO 23723 (general requirements for herbal raw material and materia medica).
- Representative samples should be preserved in airtight containers if needed.
Apparatus
- Optical microscope or slide scanner, optical/in-software micrometer, imaging devices (camera), slides and cover glasses, and botanical dissecting tools (tweezers, razor, microtome).
Preparation methods
- Cross- or longitudinal-section slides: soften, cut to typically 10–20 µm thickness, mount with mounting agent or chloral hydrate; paraffin embedding described when necessary.
- Powder slides: about 1 mg sample, swollen with swelling agent/chloral hydrate for >10 min, smeared and mounted.
- Mounting/swelling agents: examples include glycerine:water (1:1) or glycerine:95% ethanol:water (1:1:1); other suitable agents allowed.
Fixation, maceration and sectioning
- Fixatives: ethanol (50–70%), formalin (

Related standards

Mentioned in the description and other ISO standards

Overview

Key topics and technical requirements

Scope and sampling
- Sampling follows ISO 23723 (general requirements for herbal raw material and materia medica).
- Representative samples should be preserved in airtight containers if needed.
Apparatus
- Optical microscope or slide scanner, optical/in-software micrometer, imaging devices (camera), slides and cover glasses, and botanical dissecting tools (tweezers, razor, microtome).
Preparation methods
- Cross- or longitudinal-section slides: soften, cut to typically 10–20 µm thickness, mount with mounting agent or chloral hydrate; paraffin embedding described when necessary.
- Powder slides: about 1 mg sample, swollen with swelling agent/chloral hydrate for >10 min, smeared and mounted.
- Mounting/swelling agents: examples include glycerine:water (1:1) or glycerine:95% ethanol:water (1:1:1); other suitable agents allowed.
Fixation, maceration and sectioning
- Fixatives: ethanol (50–70%), formalin (

ISO/TS 21310:2025 PDF

Technical details

Abstract

Overview

Key topics and technical requirements

Related standards

Abstract

Overview

Key topics and technical requirements

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