Before embedding, the paraffin wax must be melted and maintained at a temperature of approximately 60°C. The process involves several steps: 1. Fixation: Tissues are fixed in a fixative like formalin to preserve cellular structure. 2. Dehydration: Tissues are dehydrated using graded alcohols to remove water. 3. Clearing: Alcohol is replaced with a clearing agent, usually xylene, to make tissues transparent. 4. Infiltration: Tissues are infiltrated with melted paraffin wax, replacing the clearing agent.
