In Hollande solution, which component stabilizes red blood cells?

• A. Copper acetate
• B. Picric acid
• C. Formaldehyde
• D. Acetic acid

Answer: (A)

Hollande's solution fixes blood films while helping to preserve red blood cell morphology. The component that stabilizes red blood cells is the copper acetate. Copper ions interact with the red cell membrane and surface proteins, promoting cross-linking and reducing permeability changes during fixation. This helps maintain the characteristic biconcave shape and prevents distortion or lysis as the other fixative components act. The other ingredients in Hollande's solution contribute to fixation in different ways—acidic or protein-precipitating effects—but copper acetate provides the specific membrane stabilization that keeps red blood cells intact for proper staining and visualization.