Microwave processing and ethanol-based fixation in forensic pathology.
An ethanol-based fixative (FineFIX) has been used, together with rapid microwave-stimulated processing, in postmortem material, resulting in a rapid fixation and processing of the tissues with morphology, histochemical stains, and immunocytochemistry comparable to formalin-fixed material. Furthermore, this alternative fixation gives better DNA recovery in higher amounts if compared with DNA extracted from formalin-fixed tissue, particularly advantageous in forensic pathology.
Iesurum
Antonio
A
Legal Medicine Section, Department of Medicine and Public Health University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Balbi
Tiziana
T
Vasapollo
Domenico
D
Cicognani
Alberto
A
Ghimenton
Claudio
C
D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D004247:DNA / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000431:Ethanol; D005404:Fixatives; D049429:Forensic Pathology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008872:Microwaves; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology
D005404:Fixatives; D000431:Ethanol; D004247:DNA