HISTOLOGY ONLINE 0903-CMLE ON-DEMAND WEBCAST: FIXATION

Course overview

Fixation is the cornerstone of tissue preservation. It is the first and most important step when preparing cell and tissue specimens for evaluation and study. Decisions need to be made before damage is done. Degenerative changes occur as soon as an animal expires and a wrong choice of fixative will alter the outcome permanently. For that reason, it is important to understand the nature of fixation and the agents used to preserve tissue components. In this course, you will learn about the nature of fixation, different methods of fixing tissues, and choices you need to make when selecting a fixative. This session will compare chemical versus physical methods of fixing tissue specimens, perfusion versus immersion techniques, and look at factors affecting fixation. You also will hear discussion on cellular reactions to different fixing agents, review the components, and use and special considerations of some common fixatives. As new and more complex techniques are developed and applied to tissue technology, it is essential to pay better attention to all aspects of fixing tissue. After participating in this course, you'll see how understanding fixation and applying your knowledge in this area are key to better results.