Question Answer

This leaves tissue more receptive to staining than any other fixative reagent? Mercuric Chloride
This solution is isotonic exclusive of the formaldehyde, but may produce
formalin pigment?
10% Formalin Saline
Recommended especially for the fixation and preservation of phospholipids in
tissues?
Calcium Formalin
Recommended only for tissue of the CNS, especially when the Cajal astrocyte
procedure is to be performed. This solution is very acidic, lyses RBC, and
causes nuclei to give a direct positive Schiff reaction due to the Feulgen
hydrolysis during fixation?
Formalin Ammonium
Bromide
This is probably one of the better formaldehyde solutions if one does not wish
to prepare the buffered reagent?
Acetate Formalin
Although this has been used widely as a fixative, it is not recommended
because the solution becomes acidic after withdrawal from the storage bottle?
10% Neutralized
Formalin
This solution is recommended for routine formalin fixation. It has a pH of
approximately 6.8 and it is hypotonic in the buffer ions present?
10% Neutral
Buffered Formalin
(NBF)
This solution is isotonic in buffer ions and has a pH of approximately 7.2-7.4. It
can be used as a dual purpose fixative, allowing electron microscopy on stored
tissue?
Modified Millonig
Formalin
This solution is a compound fixative, but is categorized with the other formalin
fixatives. It is useful as a fixative on tissue processors because in addition to
fixation, the dehydrating process is also begun?
Alcoholic Formalin
This solution is also an aldehyde, but it differs from formaldehyde in that it is a
dialdehyde, with one aldehyde group on each end of the molecule?
Glutaraldehyde
This additive fixative is not used frequently in the histopathology lab but is
primarily used in the fixation of specimans for electron microscopy?
Osmium Tetroxide
This is a very corosive chemical and all contact with metallic objects must be
avoided if possible?
Mercuric Chloride
This will attach to some lipids, rendering them insoluble, but it does not
preserve lipids to the degree that osmium tetroxide does?
Potassium
Dichromate
Even though specimans for electron microscopy are fixed primarily in an
aldehyde solution, they are post-fixed in this to ensure preservation of the
lipids?
Osmium Tetroxide
This chemical is unique in that it is the only substance used in histotechnique
both as a fixative ingredient and as a stain?
Picric Acid
This has recently found acceptance as a replacement for mercury since it does
not have the associated hazards and it preserves tissue antigenicity, often
making digestion procedures unnecessary.
Zinc Salts
Rarely used alone for a fixation, Noncoagulant unless used in an acid solution,
then it will act like chromic acid which is a coagulant.
Potassium
Dichromate

Superior nuclear detain and better paraffin infiltration are obtained with this
than with formalin alone.
Zinc Salts
Because less extraction of cellular elements occurs with this fixative, sectioning
of the paraffin-embedded tissue may be slightly more difficult.
Modified Millonig
Formalin
Tissue may be stored indefinitely in this solution? Alcoholic Formalin
Techniques using Schiff reagent, such as periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain,
cannot be used on tissue fixed with this solution because false-positive results
are obtained.
Glutaraldehyde
This is not used alone, but is used in compound fixatives because it is a very
powerful protein coagulant and enhances staining by leaving the tissue very
receptive to dyes. It's presence in tissue inhibits freezing, so frozen sections
are difficult.
Mercuric Chloride
This is most frequently used for the fixation of speciman's for electron
microscopy as it preserves ultra-struture better than any of the aldehydes. It
tends to overharden tissue, so fixation should not be prolonged for more than 2
hours.
Glutaraldehyde
This can be used to fix small amounts of fat so that the fat will be maintained in
sections during paraffin processing.
Osmium Tetroxide
Because of the hazard associated with the use of this chemical, other metals
have been tried as substitutes, but only zinc has found any acceptance.
Mercuric Chloride
This is a sufficiently strong acid to hydrolyze nucleic acids. If stains for DNA
and RNA are anticipated, any fixative containing this should be avoided.
Picric Acid
A fixation pigment produced by this is one that cannot be prevented but can be
removed.
Mercuric Chloride
This preserves mitochondria by rendering the lipid component of the
membranes insoluble in alcohol, but it readily dissolves DNA.
Potassium
Dichromate
This is a hypotonic and organic acid. In a dilute form, it is a common household
chemical. Vinegar, which has been used for pickling for many years contains
about 5% of this.
Acetic Acid
This chemical causes less shrinkage to tissue even though it is hypertonic and
not osmotically active. It preserves morphological details so that tissue is life-
like. Penetrates rapidly but fixes slowly (up to 7 days).
Formaldehyde
Since formaldehyde is not osmotically active, this solution is very hypotonic
and may also produce formalin pigment.
10% Aqueous
Formalin
It's name means "bitter" in Greek. Picric Acid
A coagulating fixative that is toxic and explosive, penetrates tissue well, gives
tissue a soft consistency and causes extreme shrinkage. (hypertonic effect)
Picric Acid
This fixative is chemically stable and kept at room temperature. Formaldehyde