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Comparative Study
. 2005 Jan;58(1):22-5.
doi: 10.1136/jcp.2004.021618.

Antimicrobial activity of UMFix tissue fixative

T J Cleary  1 , A R Morales, M Nadji, M Nassiri, V Vincek
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Antimicrobial activity of UMFix tissue fixative

T J Cleary et al. J Clin Pathol. 2005 Jan.

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial effects of UMFix, an alcohol based tissue fixative, on various microorganisms. The UMFix solution was compared with 10% neutral buffered formalin.

Methods: Standard methods to determine microorganism colony counts were performed after exposure of the microorganisms to UMFix and 10% neutral buffered formalin.

Results: After a short exposure, UMFix rapidly killed vegetative bacteria, yeasts, moulds, and viruses. Bacterial spores were resistant to killing by UMFix. All organisms were killed by the 10% neutral buffered formalin preparation.

Conclusions: UMFix was microbicidal for vegetative bacteria, yeasts, and aspergillus species after a short exposure, although it was not active against spore forming bacillus species. The methanol content of the fixative was responsible for the killing effect of this fixative. No killing was seen when polyethylene glycol was used alone.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Real time polymerase chain reaction of pGEM herpes simplex virus plasmid suspended in water and UMFix (all dilutions were made with water).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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