Evaluation of Tissue Fixation Methods to Inactivate Mycobacterium bovis Under Routine Laboratory Conditions. (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thacker, Tyler C.; Palmer, Mitchell V.; Waters, W. Ray
• Is Part Of: Applied biosafety. Volume 22:Number 4(2017)
• Page Start: 152
• Page End: 155
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Mycobacterium bovis -- formalin -- inactivation -- biosafety -- zinc -- tissue fixation; Industrial hygiene -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Laboratories -- Safety measures -- Periodicals; Biosecurity -- Periodicals; Biological laboratories -- Safety measures -- Periodicals; Biological laboratories -- Security measures -- Periodicals; 613.62
• DOI: 10.1177/1535676017737315
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1535-6760

Abstract

Mycobacterium bovis ( M. bovis ) is the etiologic agent of tuberculosis in mammals, including humans. The seriousness of disease and low infective dose require that the agent be handled under biosafety level 3 conditions. Many experimental protocols include histologic examination of infected tissues, which are often performed in biosafety level 2/1 laboratories, thus requiring inactivation of M. bovis within the tissues, preferably during tissue fixation. Fixation with a 10% neutral buffered formalin (3.7% formaldehyde) solution for 24 hours inactivated M. bovis in situ. In contrast, zinc fixative did not inactivate M. bovis in situ. Fixation with 10% neutral buffered formalin rendered tissues safe to transition to biosafety level 2/1 laboratories for histopathologic examination.