GAF vs. Formalin: A turning point in forensic tissue preservation.
Massimo Montisci1, Matteo Perilli1, Michela Gastaldi2
1Legal Medicine and Toxicology, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Via G. Falloppio 50, Padova 35121, Italy.
Forensic Science International
|September 18, 2025
Summary
Glyoxal Acid-Free (GAF) fixative offers a non-toxic alternative to formalin for tissue preservation. GAF provides superior morphological and molecular integrity, crucial for advanced forensic and diagnostic pathology.
Area of Science:
- Pathology
- Toxicology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Formalin is widely used but poses occupational hazards and degrades biomolecules.
- Limitations include DNA damage for next-generation sequencing (NGS) and epitope masking for immunohistochemistry (IHC).
Purpose of the Study:
- Evaluate Glyoxal Acid-Free (GAF) fixative as a safer, superior alternative to formalin.
- Assess GAF's impact on tissue morphology, immunohistochemistry, and nucleic acid preservation.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of tissue fixed with formalin versus GAF.
- Evaluation of morphological preservation, IHC staining quality, and nucleic acid integrity (DNA/RNA).
Main Results:
- GAF demonstrates excellent morphological preservation, comparable to formalin.
- GAF shows enhanced immunohistochemical performance and superior nucleic acid preservation.
- GAF offers remarkable long-term tissue stabilization.
Conclusions:
- GAF is a non-toxic, effective alternative to formalin for tissue fixation.
- GAF supports advanced molecular techniques and retrospective forensic analysis.
- GAF improves safety and data quality in diagnostic and forensic pathology.
Keywords:
CarcinogenicityDNA integrityForensic pathologyFormalinGlyoxalImmunohistochemistryNext-generation sequencingTissue fixation
