Hi all,
Barry Rittman in August this year contributed to
histonet:

"Fixatives used to be described as additive or non
additive.
Additive fixatives are those in which the fixing agent
 attaches to the
protein molecule.
Non additive fixatives on the other hand cause changes
in the proteins
that cause them to become changed, often used to be
described as
denaturation.
e.g. formalin., picric acid are  additive, ethanol is
non additive.
Because of the complexity of fixation and the great
variety of agents
used, the terms additive and non additive are not now
commonly used."

The question I have been pondering is "What is the
preferred classification for fixatives that we should
use?"
Luna suggested the terms hard and soft fixatives,
basing his classification on nuclear appearance.
What does everyone else think?

Regards and Happy Christmas and a good new year

Tony




=====
Tony Henwood JP BAppSc GradDipSysAnaly CT(ASC)
Laboratory Manager
Histopathology Department
The Childrens Hospital at Westmead
Locked Bag 4001
WESTMEAD, 2145
AUSTRALIA

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