Re: Breast Tissue Fixation
John McClure, a pathologist in Fridley MN, writes in response to Debra
Ritter's query:
>>We have used both Davidson's Fixative ( I believe that the Samurai
pathologist has a recipe on his web page) or the commercially available
Dissectaid is a commercial product that seems similar. Both have formalin,
alcohol, and acetic acid. They both do a nice job of fixing marking ink to
the surface of the specimen as well as firming up the fat. I think that the
most important contribution of these fixatives is to make it easier to cut
appropriately thin sections.<<
Indeed, I've got the formula for Davidson's fixative, with references, at
http://members.aol.com/RSRICHMOND/histology.html
It consists of three parts water, three parts alcohol, two parts 37%
formaldehyde, one part glacial acetic acid.
Breast tissue needs to be cut very thin in the first place - pathologists
simply must learn to do this, and too many of them get out of residency
without understanding the importance of this. Give 'em hell.
I used to use Davidson's fixative for breast tissue, but have been reluctant
to do so in recent years because of the limited information available about
its effect on immunohistochemical staining, particularly on the rigidly
prescribed HER2/neu procedure.
Bob Richmond
Samurai Pathologist
Knoxville TN
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