Which fixative contains Formaldehyde, Sodium Acetate, and DI water and can substitute for calcium formalin by using calcium acetate?

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Multiple Choice

Which fixative contains Formaldehyde, Sodium Acetate, and DI water and can substitute for calcium formalin by using calcium acetate?

Explanation:
Acetate formalin is a formaldehyde-based fixative buffered with an acetate system, using sodium acetate to establish the pH in DI water. This composition—formaldehyde in water with an acetate buffer—lets you substitute for calcium formalin by using calcium acetate to supply calcium ions. The acetate buffer helps stabilize fixation conditions, producing consistent morphology and reducing over‑ or under‑fixation that can occur with unbuffered solutions. The other options don’t match this combination: they either use different buffering systems, lack the acetate buffer, or are different classes of fixatives entirely.

Acetate formalin is a formaldehyde-based fixative buffered with an acetate system, using sodium acetate to establish the pH in DI water. This composition—formaldehyde in water with an acetate buffer—lets you substitute for calcium formalin by using calcium acetate to supply calcium ions. The acetate buffer helps stabilize fixation conditions, producing consistent morphology and reducing over‑ or under‑fixation that can occur with unbuffered solutions. The other options don’t match this combination: they either use different buffering systems, lack the acetate buffer, or are different classes of fixatives entirely.

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