Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Formalin

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Surgical Pathology

  • 1184 Accesses

Abstract

In histopathology, most tissues are fixed before processing and obtaining glass slides for microscopic examination. This chapter discusses the mechanism of tissue fixation, characteristics of formalin, and why it is generally considered as the “all-round” tissue fixative.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Further Reading

  • Carson FL, Cappellano CH. Histotechnology: a self-instructional text. 4th ed. Chicago: ASCP Press; 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eltoum I, Fredenburgh J, Myers RB, Grizzle WE. Introduction to the theory and practice of fixation of tissues. J Histotechnol. 2001;24(3):173–90.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Favre HA, Powell WH. Nomenclature of organic chemistry: IUPAC recommendations and preferred names 2013. Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry; 2014.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grizzle WE. The use of fixatives in diagnostic pathology. J Histotechnol. 2001;24(3):151–2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • International Agency for Research on Cancer. Formaldehyde, 2-Butoxyethanol and 1-tert-Butoxypropan-2-ol/IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Vol. 88. 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suvarna SK, Layton C, Bancroft JD. Bancroft’s theory and practice of histological techniques. Oxford: Elsevier; 2018.

    Google Scholar 

  • Torlakovic EE, Riddell R, Banerjee D, El-Zimaity H, Pilavdzic D, Dawe P, et al. Canadian Association of Pathologists–Association canadienne des pathologistes National Standards Committee/Immunohistochemistry. Am J Clin Pathol. 2010;133(3):354–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolff A, Hammond M, Hicks D, Dowsett M, McShane L, Allison K, et al. Recommendations for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 testing in breast cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists clinical practice guideline update. J Clin Oncol. 2013;31(31):3997–4013.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pathology Department, Hospital Vila Franca de Xira, Lisbon, Portugal

    João Palma

Authors
  1. João Palma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to João Palma .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Histopathology Department, Mubarak Alkabeer Hospital, Jabriya, Kuwait

    Ahmad Altaleb

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Palma, J. (2021). Formalin. In: Altaleb, A. (eds) Surgical Pathology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53690-9_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53690-9_10

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-53689-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-53690-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation