Have used zinc formalin mixture, but not in house preparation, we purchased
it from Anatech and never experienced crisp nor difficult to section
paraffin embedded tissues.  We never went back into NBF though (on
processor) and did routine tissue processing starting in 70% ethanol.
Pre-rinsing was very short, 5 minutes to remove fixative on outside of
tissues, doubtful it was extensive enough to remove zinc formalin further
into tissues.  Our human kidney biopsies were fixed in Zinc formalin, hand
processed through a very short biopsy schedule - the sectioning was
wonderful, 1 to 2 um sections were possible, without tears, biopsy was
never crispy! 

Staining was crisp, sectioning was normal. 


Gayle Callis
MT,HT,HTL(ASCP)
Research Histopathology Supervisor
Veterinary Molecular Biology 
Montana State University - Bozeman
PO Box 173610
Bozeman MT 59717-3610
406 994-6367 (lab with voice mail)
406 994-4303 (FAX)



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