[Histonet] re: why do we use xylene? was - Peloris Processor and

[Carl Hobbs]

In the late 70s I trialled isopropanol (IPA) as a processing 
dehydrant/"clearing" agent. It was completely successful for me for all my 
routine tinctorial/histochemical staining ( I wasn't using Immuno at that 
time, so cannot comment on that area).
IPA is NOT miscible with wax at RT ( unlike xylene) but, at the temp. 
neccessary to melt your conventional waxes ( at least 60C) it is completely 
miscible. I mentioned this before...here, I think. I stopped using it as I 
subsequently took a lower post in Clinical labs and I was laughed at  when I 
suggested testing IPA out.
Great to read that it's come up again: perhaps I had also read  Romeis' 
article in a journal, before it was published in a book?
Too long ago to remember, lol.

Carl