What is the common method used for tissue preservation before transplant?

Cryopreservation is the common method used for tissue preservation before transplant because it involves cooling tissues to very low temperatures, typically using liquid nitrogen, which halts all biological activity and significantly slows down the processes of decay and degradation. This method allows for the long-term storage of viable tissues, including a variety of cells and organs, while preserving their functionality and structural integrity, which is crucial for successful transplantation.

Other preservation methods, such as lyophilization, while valuable in specific contexts, are not typically used for tissues that require viability after thawing since they involve the removal of water through sublimation and can lead to cellular damage. Formalin fixation is mainly used for tissue preservation in histological studies to maintain the morphology of the tissue, but it renders tissues incompatible for transplantation as it cross-links proteins, which can disrupt cell functions. Alcohol preservation is often used for initial tissue transport or as a preparatory step in pathology but is not suitable for preserving tissues that need to remain alive and functional for transplant purposes.