International Journal of Medical Toxicology & Legal Medicine
  • Year: 2021
  • Volume: 24
  • Issue: 3and4

A comparative study of a natural substitute with ethanol in tissue fixation

1Research Scholar, School of Engineering and Sciences, GD Goenka University, Haryana, India

2Senior Scientific Officer, Biology Division Forensic Science LaboratoryDelhi, India

3Assistant Professor, School of Engineering and Sciences, GD Goenka University, Haryana, India

*Corresponding Author Dr Neeharika Srivastava, Assistant Professor, School of Engineering and Sciences, GD Goenka University, Haryana, India

Online published on 21 March, 2022.

Abstract

A complete fixation lays the ground for good tissue preparations. The fixation of tissues using formalin is the gold standard in tissue fixation. Ethanol-based fixatives are also widely used. Though, it is expensive, flammable and evaporates at a fast rate when used in high concentrations. There is a need to find its substitute considering their cancerous nature, cost and flammability.

Study included human soft tissue specimens. The aim of this study is to understand the efficacy of soft tissue specimens fixed in ethanol and unprocessed honey and provide a comparison of efficacy between them. Their histomorphological details were assessed. Chi-square was used for their analysis.

Ninety-seven percent of ethanol-fixed tissues were found to be adequately fixed compared to 90% adequacy in case of honey-fixed tissues.

A natural fixative such as honey can be considered as a safer alternative to ethanol in tissue fixation.

Keywords

Ethanol, Fixative, Formalin, Honey, Natural Substitute, Tissue fixation