Fixing Fluids

Bouin's Fluid

	Is recommended for tissue in general. Bouin (1897). May be used as a substitute for Zenker’s Fluid. Bouin’s Fluid is a fixative useful for routine procedures. Bouin’s Fluid contains formaldehyde for cytoplasmic fixation, and picric acid for chromatin. Spec Sheet

Formalin (10% Neutral Buffered)

	Is recommended as a general fixative for all tissues. Lillie (1948) Spec Sheet

Formalin 10%

	Used in Gomori’s Reticular stain and Gordon & Sweet’s Reticular stain.

Hollande's Fixative

	Hollande’s is a fixative useful for routine procedures. Hollande’s contains formaldehyde for cytoplasmic fixation. It is stable and will decalcify small bone specimens. Tissue that is fixed with Hollande's can be stained successfully with most stains, and the cupric acetate in the solution stabilizes red blood cell membranes and cosinophil and endocrine cell granules so that less lysis occurs than with Bouin's solution. Hollande's is widely used as a fixative for biopsy specimens of the gastrointestinal tract. Spec Sheet

Mer/Cure (Stabilized Iodine Solution)

	Is a single component reagent for the rapid removal of mercury crystals from tissue sections fixed with mercury containing fluids (ie. B5, or Zenker’s). Spec Sheet

Newcomer's Fixative

Zinc Formalin

	Zinc Formalin is a tissue fixative for routine procedures. Spec Sheet