<P>Hi Andrea,</P>
<P>I work in a Neuropathology laboratory where we process and stain human and animal brain tissue. We use formalin (NBF) fixation as well as an ethanol (EtOH) fixation. The EtOH fixative is 70% Ethanol with 150mM NaCl.</P>
<P>We used EtOH fixation because we get better results immunohistochemsitry. There is usually no antigen retrieval necessary, but if you do find that you need retrieval very few methods work. There are no fumes to worry about, but it does take longer to fix. We usually fix overnight and place in the processor the next afternoon. Many think the morphology is not as good as NBF and some of our special stains require post-fixation in NBF prior to staining.</P>
<P>We use the same processing and dehydrating schedual as NBF and we sometimes process them together. </P>
<P>Some pathologists in the lab love using EtOH fixation while others hate it mainly because of bad morphology. You will just have to see if it solves your problem. If you have any other question please let me know and I hope this helps. </P><BR><BR>Shelley K. Sheridan<br>Research Specialist<br>Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research<br>University of Pennsylvania Medical School<br>Philadelphia, PA 19104<br>Phone:(215)614-0051<p><br><hr size=1><b>Do You Yahoo!?</b><br>
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