The preparation of tissue for paraffin embedding involves several steps: - Fixation: The tissue is first fixed, often using a chemical like formalin, to preserve its structure and prevent degradation. - Dehydration: The tissue is then dehydrated through a series of alcohol baths, removing water which can interfere with the paraffin. - Clearing: Next, the tissue is cleared in a solvent like xylene that is miscible with both alcohol and paraffin. - Infiltration: Finally, the tissue is infiltrated with melted paraffin, which penetrates the tissue and replaces the xylene.
