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Antimicrobial activity of UMFix tissue fixative

¹ Department of Pathology, Holtz Center, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
² Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami School of Medicine

Correspondence to:
Dr T J Cleary
University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, Department of Pathology, Holtz Center, Room 2115, 1611 NW 12 Avenue, Miami, FL 33136, USA; tcleary{at}med.miami.edu 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.

Abbreviations: Ct, threshold cycle; HSV, herpes simplex virus; PCR, polymerase chain reaction

Keywords: UMFix; methanol; tissue fixation