Re: Formalin substitutes
Hi Valerie,
I say stick with what works. Does that mean
other fixatives don't work? ... No, but 10% neutral buffered formalin is the
standard. This is what the manufacturers test the antibodies on, it is how
tissues are *routinely* processed it is the industry standard. Now obviously it
is not the best fixative, primarily due to it's toxicity and the amount of
pretreatments necessary for IHC to work, but it is what everyone (OK ... almost
everyone) uses.
If as a RULE or an international STANDARD,
EVERYONE chose ONE alternative fixative then it would make sense to ditch
formalin and life would be happy. But honestly, I don't see any standards
forthcoming. In fact quite the opposite, I see dozens of companies competing,
each with their own nonsensical "proprietary" (there's that P-word again)
formulation.
So if you did switch to another fixative
and optimized all your IHC procedures to match your choice of fixative how would
you deal with a consult block that you might get that you did not process and
would it be properly standardized. Or on the other hand how would another lab
that gets a block you processed in this fixative. How would they know how you
and all the other blocks they might get were processed. How should their
controls be processed. (Good luck finding an ALK1 (+) control processed 12
different ways (just in case)) It's really just a question of standardization.
Aldehydes aren't the best but like it or not, they are the
standard.
Amos Brooks
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, May 29, 2002 11:21
PM
Subject: Formalin substitutes
Hi,
It's me again. We currently use zinc
formalin. Our safety officer wants us to check into formalin substitutes. My
problem is that our IHC procedure (Kit from manufacturer)
says to use only formalin, or zinc formalin for
best results.
Any input would be greatly
appreciated.
and no we don't want to change our IHC
procedure.
Thanks a lot!!!!
Valerie Hannen,MLT(ASCP),HTL
Parrish Medical Center
Titusville, Florida
32796
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