Study for the CAMLPR Histology Practice Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which fixative is used for trichrome, bone marrow and bloody specimens and lyses red blood cells?

Zenker's fixative is a mercury-containing solution historically favored for Mallory-type trichrome staining because it preserves tissue detail in a way that makes the contrasting colors of the trichrome dyes clear. It’s also well suited to bone marrow and blood-rich specimens, in part because its action helps lyse red blood cells, reducing background and allowing the cellular elements of marrow or blood to be evaluated more clearly. This combination—compatibility with trichrome staining, suitability for marrow and bloody samples, and the red blood cell lysis—is why it’s the best fit for these applications. Other fixatives on the list have different primary uses or don’t provide the same RBC-lysis effect in this context.

Zenker's fixative is a mercury-containing solution historically favored for Mallory-type trichrome staining because it preserves tissue detail in a way that makes the contrasting colors of the trichrome dyes clear. It’s also well suited to bone marrow and blood-rich specimens, in part because its action helps lyse red blood cells, reducing background and allowing the cellular elements of marrow or blood to be evaluated more clearly. This combination—compatibility with trichrome staining, suitability for marrow and bloody samples, and the red blood cell lysis—is why it’s the best fit for these applications. Other fixatives on the list have different primary uses or don’t provide the same RBC-lysis effect in this context.