Hi Histonetters!

I need help from those of you lucky enough to have convinced your
pathologists to get rid of B-5 and use a substitute instead. We are
still using B-5 and would like to eliminate it. We have obtained several
samples of B-5 substitutes from different companies and have given our
Pathologists lymph node slides using these fixatives to evaluate.  The
slides look great, however they are still reluctant to eliminate the
B-5.

I would like to hear what fixatives are being used, how you convinced
them to eliminate B-5, any pros or cons to any of the fixatives, and any
problems you have had with any of the substitutes. Any information would
be greatly appreciated.

The substitutes we have tried are AZF by Newcomer, Zinc chloride by
Newcomer, Z-5 by Anatech, Zinc chloride by Polyscientific, and Zinc
Formalin by Stephens Scientific.

Cindy Higgerson HTL (ASCP)
Pathology Supervisor
Memorial Hospital
Belleville, Illinois