"Characterization of Fixatives and their Application in Histopathology"

Abstract

Background: One of the most important steps in the histopathological analysis to provide a well-qualified sample which results in excellent and reliable data. There is no universal fixative to be used in all downstream applications in the biomedical sciences and diagnostic pathology. Identifying the characteristics of each fixative and their mechanism of action can be of great help in selecting the right fixative.Methods: A comprehensive literature searches about characterization of fixatives and their application in histopathology in English databases including Google Scholar, Science Direct, Scopus, Pub Med, and Web of Sciences, Persian SID databases to 2022.Results: Coagulative and crosslinking agents are conventional fixatives, each providing different perspectives for maintaining tissue integrity. Investigation of the effectiveness of combined fixatives has shown that these fixatives can overcome the limitations of alcoholic and cross-linking agents and can be widely used. It is vital for pathologists and laboratory staff to have a precise knowledge of which fixative is optimal for various applications such as morphology, immunohistochemistry, and RNA/ DNA analysis. Conclusion:This review aims to discuss the classification of different types of fixatives, their mechanisms, as well as applications. It then provides practical information on the best fixative for common methods in analyzing the specimens.