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Related Concept Videos

Fixation and Sectioning01:03

Fixation and Sectioning

6.0K
Two basic types of preparation are used to visualize specimens with a light microscope: wet mounts and fixed specimens.
The simplest type of preparation is the wet mount, in which the specimen is placed in a drop of liquid on the slide. A liquid specimen can be directly deposited on the slide using a dropper. Solid specimens, such as skin scraping, can be placed on the slide before adding a drop of liquid to prepare the wet mount. Sometimes the liquid is simply water, but stains are often added...
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Preparation of Samples for Electron Microscopy01:20

Preparation of Samples for Electron Microscopy

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To be visualized by an electron microscope, either transmission or scanning, biological samples need to be fixed (stabilized) so the electron beam does not destroy them and dried thoroughly (desiccated/dehydrated) so the vacuum does not affect them. Fixation needs to be done as quickly as possible because the sample properties will start changing as soon as it is removed from its natural environment. For example, in a tissue sample, the oxygen levels begin decreasing, causing an altered...
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The pathologist's guide to fixatives.

Kiran Qidwai1, Michelle Afkhami, Christina E Day

  • 1Department of Pathology, USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|July 13, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Choosing the right tissue fixative is crucial for accurate pathology diagnosis and patient care. This guide details common fixatives, their actions, and optimal uses, especially for molecular testing.

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Area of Science:

  • Histopathology
  • Laboratory Medicine
  • Diagnostic Pathology

Background:

  • Accurate tissue fixation is critical for reliable specimen evaluation and diagnosis.
  • Pathologists are frequently consulted on appropriate fixative selection for various tissues and diagnostic needs.
  • Inadequate or inappropriate fixation can irreversibly compromise diagnostic capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide practical guidance on selecting optimal tissue fixatives.
  • To explain the mechanisms of action for common fixatives.
  • To highlight the impact of fixatives on ancillary testing in personalized medicine.

Main Methods:

  • Review of common tissue fixatives and their properties.
  • Discussion of fixative mechanisms and optimal applications.
  • Analysis of fixative effects on immunohistochemistry, cytogenetics, and molecular studies.

Main Results:

  • Formalin is often adequate but not always optimal for tissue fixation.
  • Specific fixatives are necessary to avoid limiting diagnostic potential.
  • Fixative choice significantly impacts the success of downstream molecular and ancillary tests.

Conclusions:

  • Pathologists must possess comprehensive knowledge of fixatives for optimal patient care.
  • Understanding fixative properties is essential for modern diagnostics, including personalized medicine.
  • This information aids in selecting the best fixative to ensure diagnostic accuracy and enable advanced testing.