deparaffinisation
Deparaffinisation, also known as dewaxing, is the laboratory process of removing paraffin wax from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections in order to allow staining and other aqueous assays to interact with cellular material. The tissue is first prepared by cutting thin sections that are mounted on glass slides and refixed to ensure adherence before staining.
The standard procedure uses organic solvents to dissolve the paraffin. Slides are immersed in xylene or a
Safety and environmental considerations are important, as xylene and many solvents are toxic and flammable. Work