The present invention is directed to a fixative composition, the use of the fixative composition in preparing cytological or histological specimens, and a method of preparing particulate matter, such as cytology, hematology and microbiology specimens, for examination by collecting the particulate matter in a uniform layer, preferably a monolayer, and fixing the particles in a composition according to the present invention. The cytological, hematological, microbiological and histological fixative composition of the present invention contains an aldehyde cross-linker, a polyol and a detergent. The method of the present invention for preserving the particulate or histological specimen uses the fixative composition containing an aldehyde cross-linker, a polyol and a detergent.