Liver biopsies must be adequately fixed, preserving cellular detail that will aid in diagnosis. Proper fixation of liver biopsies can be achieved using 10% neutral buffered formalin (NBF) which is the most commonly used and widely accepted fixative for tissue specimens. 10% NBF allows for subsequent staining techniques that may additionally aid in diagnosis. Critical elements that affect fixation are the size of the tissue, ratio of fixative to tissue, and temperature.
