The purpose of fixation is to preserve the original morphological structure of cells and tissues. Fixatives can prevent autolysis of tissues and cells caused by endogenous lysosomal enzymes and inhibit the growth of bacteria and molds. Fixatives alter the internal structure of proteins through coagulation and adduct formation, thereby inactivating enzymes. Fixatives are classified into aldehyde fixatives, mercury‑containing fixatives, alcohol fixatives, oxidant fixatives, picrate fixatives and others. Among them, formalin (aldehyde‑based) and ethanol (alcohol‑based) are widely used.
BS Fixative is mainly composed of methanol, acetic acid and other components. It delivers good fixation performance for cell nuclei, and is especially suitable for fixation for nuclear DNA staining. This reagent is for research use only and is not intended for clinical diagnosis or other applications.
Operating Procedures (For Reference Only)
1. Operate according to specific experimental requirements.
2. Place blood smears or cell smears in pre‑warmed BS Fixative (30‑40 °C) and fix for 20‑30 min.
3. Proceed to downstream staining experiments.
Precautions
1. Fixation time varies with the thickness of tissue samples. Proper tissue sampling facilitates the penetration of fixative.
2. Use a sufficient volume of fixative; generally, the volume ratio of fixative to tissue block should be greater than 10:1.
3. Fresh tissues should be fixed immediately after collection. If immediate fixation is not feasible, store samples in normal saline for prompt processing.
4. For your personal safety and health, wear a lab coat and disposable gloves during operation.
5. Use the reagent as soon as possible after opening to avoid compromising experimental results.
