Fixative for TEM

doi:10.1101/pdb.rec066779

Recipe

Fixative for TEM

Reagent	Amount needed for 10 mL	Final concentration
1 m sodium cacodylate (pH 7.4)	1 mL	0.1 m
Formaldehyde stock solution (20%)^a	2 mL	4%
50% glutaraldehyde (EM-grade ampule; Ted Pella)^b	0.7 mL	3.5%
H₂O	6.3 mL

Both formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde should be fresh. Prepare fixative fresh before each use.

^aImportant! Do not use a commercially available 37% stock formaldehyde; rather, make a 20% stock solution from paraformaldehyde. A 20% stock of formaldehyde lasts up to 1 wk if kept at 4°C.

^bOnce opened, glutaraldehyde is good for 1 mo if stored at 4°C.