Formalin ammonium bromide is a very good fixative for connective tissue.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Both
• D. Neither

Answer: (B)

Understanding how a fixative interacts with connective tissue helps explain why this statement isn’t accurate. Connective tissue is rich in collagen and ground substance, so the best fixatives are those that preserve the extracellular matrix and provide good staining for collagen fibers. Bouin’s fixative (picric acid, formaldehyde, acetic acid) is renowned for preserving delicate connective tissue and enhancing staining with collagen-specific stains like Masson’s trichrome. Neutral buffered formalin, while excellent for general tissue morphology, can cause some shrinkage and doesn’t always preserve connective tissue detail as well. A formula like formalin ammonium bromide isn’t considered a superior or standard fixative for connective tissue. Therefore, the claim is false.