What fixative is used for bone marrow samples?

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Bone marrow cytology relies on a fixative that is fast-acting and compatible with the stains used to evaluate cells. Methanol fits that role well because it quickly fixes cells by precipitating proteins, preserving nuclear detail and cytoplasmic morphology without over-fixation, which allows Wright-Giemsa or similar Romanowsky stains to accurately reveal cell types and features. Formalin is reserved for paraffin-embedded tissue and can over-fix and obscure details in smear preparations. Bouin's solution can stain oddly and introduce artifacts due to picric acid, making interpretation less reliable for bone marrow smears. Glutaraldehyde is a strong crosslinker used mainly for electron microscopy and hard tissue work, not for routine cytology.