Saudi Journal of Pathology and Microbiology (SJPM)
Volume-3 | Issue-02 | 56-59
Orginal Research Article
FNAC: Alcohol and Honey Comparitive Study
Dr. G. Gnana Kumari, Dr. S. Naganna
Published : Feb. 28, 2018
Abstract
Recent attempts have been made to prove that honey is also a comparable
fixative for cytological specimens. It is a natural organic product, odorless and not
known to cause any disease. Secondly it is relatively cheaper and not prone to be
mishandled, making it an efficient contender for use as a fixative. Our results,
therefore, confirmed that honey can safely be used as an alternate to alcohol in
cytology specimens. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is a useful diagnostic
aid in benign and malignant lesions. The diagnostic accuracy of FNAC depends on
the sampling technique, fixative used, and quality of staining and of course the
meticulosity of interpretation by the pathologist. The widely used fixative in this
procedure is 95 % Alcohol which although readily available, has a number of
limitations for use. It is expensive and hence subject to pilferage. Also, it is a volatile
liquid with an irritant smell and is said to be carcinogenic. In this study, we analyzed
and compared the efficacy of cytological smears fixed in 95% alcohol and 20% honey
solution. The results of our study showed no statistical significant difference in the
fixative properties of honey and alcohol.