Fixatives (Wk 16, 17) Flashcards
This does not affect spores and therefore tissue may still be infectious.
MICROWAVE
Air drying of smears can lead to what 4 problems
- Enlarged cells and nuclei
- Indistinct cell boundaries
- Pale chromatin staining
- Overall pale staining
A less toxic alternative to mercury.
ZINC SULFATE
What is a coating fixative and its purpose
Wax coating that protects cells during transport or until they can be stained
Prevents air-dry effect
Glutaraldehyde is usually used as a _% solution
2%
This causes proteins to swell.
ACETIC ACID
Main effect of formalin on staining?
Decreased amino (+) groups
Zinc sulphate fixation mechanism
Binds to histidine and cysteine residues to stabilize conformation of proteins
Fixative that precipitates proteins without denaturing them
acetone
Formalin is added to this fixative before use
B5
Routine use of B5
Bone marrow
General category of fixatives which cause proteins to precipitate.
COAGULANT
What is the working concentration of formalin
Max conc. of formaldehyde in solution = 40%
Diluted 1 in 10
Therefore, 10% neutral buffered formalin = 4% formaldehyde
What are the 2 reactions that occur during fixation with formalin
- Hemiacetal formation
2. Methylene bridge formation
Transport media for short term (~1 hr) storage
Place on saline moistened gauze in sealed container on ice
Refrigeration
Routine use of Zenker’s
Bone marrow
Lmyph nodes
How to make formalin from paraformaldehyde
Dissolve in water; faster in neutral pH
What is the primary purpose of a microanatomical fixative?
preservation of cellular and non-cellular structural elements
2 cons of Bouin’s
- Excessive hardening
- Removes calcium and iron
These are formed when formaldehyde crosslinks proteins.
METHYLENE BRIDGES
This reaction is used to demonstrate the adrenal medulla and tumours of it
Chromaffin reaction
Typical fixatives for fluids
Ethanol
Saline in sterile container
Refrigeration
4 common ingredients in Zenker’s
- Mercuric chloride
- Potassium dichromate
- Sodium sulphate
- Water
Volume of fixative that should be used?
15-20x greater than tissue
Term for nuclear shrinkage and increased basophilia.
PYKNOSIS
Formalin solutions mainly reacts with this functional group.
AMINO GROUPS
2 main routine uses of osmium tetroxide fixative
- Electron microscopy (as a fixative)
- Lipid stain (as a stain)
2 major aldehyde fixatives
- Formalin
- Glutaraldehyde
2 main glutaraldehyde differences compared to formalin
- Larger
- 2 aldehyde functional groups rather than 1
2 reactions involved in formalin fixation
1 - hemiacetal formation
2 - methylene bridge formation
Transport media for long term storage
Michel’s transport media