How much formalin is enough to fix tissues?
Author(s): Buesa RJ, Peshkov MV
Publication: Ann Diagn Pathol, 2012, Vol. 16, Page 202-9
PubMed ID: 22483550 PubMed Review Paper? No
Purpose of Paper
Conclusion of Paper
Studies
-
Study Purpose
The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of fixative volume to tissue ratio, tissue type, and fixation duration on sectioning quality, H and E staining, and vimentin immunostaining among FFPE tissue specimens. Uterus, breast, liver, abdominal skin, and underlying fat tissue were collected 36 h post-mortem after storage at 4-6 degrees C. FFPE specimens were sectioned using a rotary microtome.
Summary of Findings:
Although not statistically significant, the average sectioning quality (impossible scored as 0, bad scored as 1, fair scored as 2, good scored as 3) increased when tissue to fixative ratios decreased from 1:1 to 1:10. Significant increases in sectioning quality were observed when fixation time was increased from 8 h to 24 or 48 h. Among the 5 tissue types, fat and skin were the most difficult to section and were significantly harder than uterus, breast, and liver. Breast, uterus, and liver sectioning quality was not significantly different from one another. Neither H and E staining quality nor vimentin immunostaining (uterus only) were affected by fixation time or tissue to fixative ratio.
Biospecimens
Preservative Types
- Formalin
Diagnoses:
- Autopsy
- Normal
Platform:
Analyte Technology Platform Morphology H-and-E microscopy Morphology Macroscopic observation Protein Immunohistochemistry Pre-analytical Factors:
Classification Pre-analytical Factor Value(s) Biospecimen Acquisition Biospecimen location Uterus
Breast
Liver
Abdominal skin
Abdominal fat
Biospecimen Preservation Time in fixative 8 h
24 h
48 h
Biospecimen Preservation Tissue to fixative ratio 1:1
1:2
1:5
1:10
Immunohistochemistry Specific Targeted peptide/protein Vimentin