Shabana Nawaz, Ah Nagi, Ayesha Bajwa, Aneela Amjad, Hafiz Mohammad Dawood, Maham Ashraf.
Comparison of honey and alcoholic fixatives in tissues using different types of stains.
Healer J Physiotherap Rehab Jan ;3(8):776-84.

Background: Formalin has been used as a standard fixative for various clinical routines globally. In 1987, after formaldehyde was used as a standard, various studies have been conducted to find a substitute for formalin due to its carcinogenic effects. Since then honey has been proven to be a safe alternative to formalin. Objective: Comparing the tissue fixation abilities of honey, Carnoy`s, Bouin`s and Zenker`s solution with the tissue fixation abilities of formalin using eosin, hematoxylin and Masson trichrome periodic acid Schiff is the objective of this study. Methods: This current study is a comparative model of the study conducted at an experimental research laboratory of the University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan. This study was designed to determine and explore more eco-friendly, more cost-effective, readily available and best substitutes for formalin fixatives, such as honey, Bouin`s solution, Carnoy`s solution and Zenker`s solution. 30 rats were allocated into five categories, Group 1, Group 2, Group 3, Group 4, and Group 5. Group 1 was the control group which consisted of 6 rats in which the fixative employed was Formalin. The other groups were the experimental groups. They all utilized the other fixatives, Bouin`s, Zenker`s and Carnoy`s solution and honey. This was followed by conventional dispensation and staining. The sections of the tissues were examined and assessed for nuclear details, cytoplasmic details and quality of staining under microscope. Each benchmark was rated on a scale of zero to three (where zero for poor and three for excellent). Results: The results of this current study demonstrated that the tissue that was fixated in honey, Carnoy`s, and Bouin`s solutions were comparable to the tissues fixated in formalin. The tissues that were fixated on Zenker`s solution showed only minute morphological changes among some tissues. Although this didn`t have an impact on accurate diagnostic supposition. Conclusion: Honey, Carnoy`s and Bouin`s solutions used for the fixation of tissues yielded good results. Hence this study concludes that they might be used efficaciously in daily routine histopathology laboratories as a substitute for formalin.

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