What is the target final pH for Zamboni solution?

• A. 5.5
• B. 7.3
• C. 8.0
• D. 4.0

Answer: (B)

Zamboni solution is buffered to keep tissue samples at a near-physiological pH during processing. Maintaining a stable, close-to-neutral pH helps preserve tissue morphology and antigenicity, reducing artifacts that can occur if the pH drifts during fixative steps or processing. A pH of 7.3 sits just slightly above neutral, matching the natural environment of many tissues and providing a stable condition for staining and interpretation. More acidic conditions (like 5.5 or 4.0) can cause tissue degradation or distortion, while a more basic condition (like 8.0) can alter protein structure and staining characteristics. Therefore, the target final pH is 7.3.