State-of-the-art RNA based analyses still rely mainly on fresh or cryopreserved samples, ensuring a much better preservation of biomolecules than fixation with formalin. In agarose gels or electropherograms intact total RNA extracted from cryopreserved tissue displays two distinct bands or peaks from the structural RNA of the eukaryotic 18 s and 28 s ribosome subunits (rRNA). The abundance, defined size and ratio of these two bands/peaks allows their use as surrogate markers of RNA fragmentation by calculating the ratio of the rRNA bands (28S:18S) or using the shape of the electropherogram to derive parameters, such as the RIN value (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA). While these assays are well established for RNA from fresh or cryopreserved tissues, it is also known that the two distinct rRNA peaks are compromised in RNA extracted from tissues fixed in formalin or other denaturing fixatives [22]. It is furthermore unclear how well the fragment size distribution of the ribosomal RNA predicts the behavior of the messenger RNA (mRNA) subsequently used as source material for gene expression studies. Because rRNA is a structural component of the ribosome it could be extensively cross-linked to the amino acids of the ribosomal proteins leading to more extensive degradation of rRNA. In addition, the structural integrity does not necessarily correlate with chemical modifications and performance of RNA in enzymatic reactions. Several groups have already reported on the impact of formalin fixation on qRT-PCR [23]–[25]. Building on these previous reports we have now performed a comprehensive and comparative study of the impact of different pre-analytical steps on RNA fragmentation and performance in different analytical reactions. The goal was to identify the most critical pre-analytical steps that should also become the target for more accurate quality control for instance by using different assays presented in our study. Based on the assumption that the crosslinking of biomolecules is a major contributor to RNA degradation, we explored the detrimental effects of the routinely used crosslinking fixative formalin on RNA molecules in comparison with a non-crosslinking, alcohol-based fixative, by taking the Tissue Tek Xpress Molecluar fixative (TTXMF) as example and cryopreserved samples as reference for molecular analyses.