What is the specific purpose of the 'clearing' step in the tissue processing sequence?
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Correct answer: To replace the dehydrating agent with a solvent miscible with paraffin
Clearing agents, such as xylene, are miscible with both the dehydrating agent (ethanol) and the embedding medium (paraffin). This 'clears' the path for the wax to fully infiltrate the tissue sample.
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More Tissue Preparation questions
- During embedding, why must the tissue be carefully oriented in the mold?
- Which instrument is used to cut thin sections (typically 5–10 micrometers) from a paraffin-embedded block?
- What occurs during the 'infiltration' step of tissue processing?
- A 'frozen section' is often preferred over paraffin embedding in a clinical setting when:
- Which of the following is a disadvantage of using heat to speed up the fixation process?
- Before staining with an aqueous dye like Hematoxylin, what must be done to a paraffin-embedded section on a slide?