Picric acid as a fixative component leads to which pigment, and which washing step helps reduce it?

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Multiple Choice

Picric acid as a fixative component leads to which pigment, and which washing step helps reduce it?

Picric acid in fixatives like Bouin’s can leave a yellow pigment in tissue, known as picric acid pigment, which can mask or alter staining. The most effective way to reduce this pigment is to wash with 50-70% alcohol because picric acid and its pigment dissolve more readily in ethanol than in water. A water wash or buffer wash won’t remove it as effectively, and no wash would leave the pigment intact. So, an alcohol wash is the best step to minimize the yellow pigment from picric acid fixation.

Picric acid in fixatives like Bouin’s can leave a yellow pigment in tissue, known as picric acid pigment, which can mask or alter staining. The most effective way to reduce this pigment is to wash with 50-70% alcohol because picric acid and its pigment dissolve more readily in ethanol than in water. A water wash or buffer wash won’t remove it as effectively, and no wash would leave the pigment intact. So, an alcohol wash is the best step to minimize the yellow pigment from picric acid fixation.

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