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Honey as a Cytological Fixative: A Comparative Study With 95% Alcohol
Avinash Priyadarshi1,2, Rupinder Kaur3,4, Roma Issacs2
1Pathology, Mata Gujri Memorial (MGM) Medical College & Lions Seva Kendra (LSK) Hospital, Kishaganj, IND.
Cureus
|September 23, 2022
Summary
Natural honey serves as a viable, eco-friendly alternative to expensive and potentially harmful ethyl alcohol for cytological fixation. This study demonstrates its comparable efficacy in preserving cell morphology for routine diagnostic practices, especially in resource-limited settings.
Area of Science:
- Cytopathology
- Histology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Standard cytological fixative, 95% ethyl alcohol (ethanol), is costly and has limitations.
- Alternative fixatives like methanol pose toxicity risks.
- Honey is a natural, eco-friendly preservative with potential as a cytological fixative.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of 20% honey versus 95% ethanol as a cytological fixative.
- To assess cytomorphological features and fixation properties.
- To determine honey's suitability for routine cytological practice.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study on 300 cytological samples (body fluids, cervical smears, FNAC).
- Smears fixed in 95% ethanol and 20% natural honey for ≥15 minutes.
- Papanicolaou (Pap) staining followed by comparative analysis of cytomorphological parameters.
Main Results:
- Comparable good-quality staining and morphology preservation with both fixatives.
- Crisp nuclear and cytoplasmic staining observed.
- Strong agreement between honey and ethanol fixation (kappa 0.896–0.942, p<0.05).
Conclusions:
- 20% natural honey is a non-toxic, readily available alternative to ethanol for cytological fixation.
- Honey fixation yields results comparable to ethanol.
- Recommended for routine cytological practices, particularly in resource-constrained environments.
