title: How formalin affects the outcome of routine and special stains.
abstract: The discovery of formaldehyde for preserving tissue structures produced a new dimension in microscopy. Preserving structure and morphology became important; therefore, identifying a proper fixing agent for particular structures, chemical entities, and tissues, also became important. The methods for demonstrating tissue structures evolved and were implemented with careful observation and documentation of the results and outcomes. Formalin was incorporated into many techniques, and provided helpful results in many cases and hindrances in others. The effects of formalin on the outcomes of routine and special staining techniques are reported here.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA. lajones@wfubmc.edu
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D005404:Fixatives / Q000737:chemistry*; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000737:chemistry*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D016707:Tissue Fixation
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D005404:Fixatives; D005557:Formaldehyde