Freida L. Carson, PhD, HT(ASCP)
Department of Pathology (retired), Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX

Christa Hladik, AA, HT(ASCP)^cm, QIHC
Neuropathology and Immunohistochemistry, UT Southwestern Clinical Laboratories, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, TX

Keywords: dehydration, alcohols, acetone, universal solvents

Upon completion of this activity, you will be able to:

• define dehydration, clearing, infiltration, universal solvent, and miscible.
• define dehydrating agents alcohol (ethyl, methyl, butyl, isopropyl), dioxane, acetone, and tetrahydrofuran.
• identify why a concentration of ethanol no higher than 65% should be used after fixation with phosphate-buffered formaldehyde.
• identify 3 universal solvents.