What fixative is used for most routine tissues for fixation?

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Routine fixation aims to preserve tissue architecture with minimal artifacts while staying compatible with standard stains. Neutral buffered formalin fits this best because it is a 4% formaldehyde solution that is buffered to near-neutral pH, which prevents acid-induced distortion and pigment formation. The formaldehyde cross-links proteins, stabilizing cellular and tissue structures so that routine H&E staining yields consistent, reliable results. Other fixatives have specialized uses but are not ideal for general practice: Bouin’s fixative, with picric acid, provides excellent nuclear detail but leaves a yellow pigment and can interfere with some stains and immunohistochemistry; glutaraldehyde offers superb ultrastructural preservation for electron microscopy but can mask epitopes and is not suitable for routine paraffin sections; non-buffered formalin can introduce pH-related artifacts, making buffered formalin the preferred standard.