The statement 'Buffering formalin to pH greater than 7.0 prevents pigment formation' is true or false?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not enough information
• D. Sometimes

Answer: (B)

Formalin pigment forms when formalin is acidic, so keeping fixative near neutral pH reduces but does not absolutely prevent the pigment. Buffering to around pH 7 lowers the risk, but pigment can still develop under other conditions—such as aging or degraded fixative, long fixation times, or particular tissue chemistries. Therefore, the statement isn’t strictly true; neutral buffered formalin minimizes pigment formation but does not guarantee its complete absence.