Perenyi's fluid serves dual purposes in histopathology. What are these purposes?

Perenyi's fluid is specifically utilized in histopathology for two primary functions: as a tissue softener and as a decalcifying agent. The formulation of Perenyi's fluid allows it to soften tissues that may be difficult to process due to their hardness, facilitating easier slicing and examination under a microscope. Furthermore, it also plays a critical role in decalcification, which is essential when dealing with calcified tissues or bone specimens. Decalcification is necessary to prevent damage to the microtome blade and ensures clear, artifact-free sections for microscopic evaluation. This dual functionality of softening and decalcifying optimizes the histotechnology workflow, making it an important solution in the preparation of tissue samples for diagnosis.