After Bouin fixation, tissues should be washed in which solution before processing?

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Multiple Choice

After Bouin fixation, tissues should be washed in which solution before processing?

Explanation:
Bouin fixative leaves picric acid in tissue, which can interfere with dehydration, embedding, and staining if not removed. Washing with a mild alcohol solution—typically 50–70% ethanol—effectively dissolves residual picric acid and starts the dehydration process without overly harshly affecting tissue structure. Water alone may not remove all picric acid and can cause swelling from acetic acid, while very high concentrations like 95% alcohol are less effective at removing the pigment. Using formalin would reintroduce fixative. So, a 50–70% alcohol wash best prepares Bouin-fixed tissue for processing.

Bouin fixative leaves picric acid in tissue, which can interfere with dehydration, embedding, and staining if not removed. Washing with a mild alcohol solution—typically 50–70% ethanol—effectively dissolves residual picric acid and starts the dehydration process without overly harshly affecting tissue structure. Water alone may not remove all picric acid and can cause swelling from acetic acid, while very high concentrations like 95% alcohol are less effective at removing the pigment. Using formalin would reintroduce fixative. So, a 50–70% alcohol wash best prepares Bouin-fixed tissue for processing.

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