[Histonet] FISH baking and dewaxing

[Houston, Ronald]

Can someone please explain why paraffin-embedded slides for FISH need to be baked for so long and have extensive dewaxing in xylenes and subsequent alcohol pretreatment?
Our Molecular group bake for >1 hr at 65C, and then treat sections in 3 changes of xylene 15 min each, and 100% ethanol 15 minutes each x2 before air-drying. I have asked them why so long and get the standard response -- "that's the way we always do it"!

Thanks
Ronnie

Ronnie Houston, MS HT(ASCP)QIHC
Anatomic Pathology Manager
ChildLab, a Division of Nationwide Children's Hospital
www.childlab.com

700 Children's Drive
Columbus, OH 43205
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