Most widely used fixative for routine histopathology

DNB DNB Pathology
#1

FIXATIVES

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1)10% Neutral Buffered Formalin (NBF) :

● most widely used fixative for routine histopathology.

2)B-5 AND ZENKER’S FIXATIVE:

(=Mercurials)

● give excellent nuclear detail.
● best for fixation of hematopoietic and reticuloendothelial tissues

3)Bouin’s solution ( picric acid) :

● good fixative for connective tissue ,glycogen testis, GI tract, and endocrine tissue.

4)Glutaraldehyde and Osmium tetroxide
● recommended for fixation of tissues for electron microscopy.

5)Ethanol (95%) :

● used primarily for cytologic smears.

  1. HOPE Fixative (Hepes-glutamic acid buffer-mediated organic solvent protection effect (HOPE) ):

● gives formalin-like morphology
● best for for immunohistochemistry; enzyme histochemistry and nucleic acid .