Course Outline
Click on the links below to preview selected pages from this course.
- Xylene in Histology
- What Is Xylene?
- Gold Standard Clearing Agent
- Which of the following can xylene remove?
- What statement is not true about xylene?
- What Is Xylene Used For?
- Xylene in Tissue Processing for Paraffin Embedding
- Xylene in Tissue Deparaffinization for Proper Staining
- Xylene in Coverslipping Process
- What is the primary role of xylene in the clearing step of tissue processing?
- Effects of Not Using Xylene
- Xylene is used in coverslipping because it:
- Toxicity of Xylene
- Alternatives to Xylene
- References
Additional Information
Level of Instruction: Basic
Intended Audience: This course is created as an educational tool for histology laboratory personnel and as a supplemental education for students in medical laboratory science and histology technician programs.
Author Information:
Audrey T. Nguyen, MS Data Science at Eastern University, HT(ASCP), has about 20 years of histology experience working in hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, and the pharmaceutical industry. She is currently working at a pharmaceutical company in California specializing in histology, immunohistochemistry, and biomarkers for diagnosing and researching diseases. Her histology and immunohistochemistry work in support of research and development in skin biology has also been published in journals and publications.
The author has no
conflict of interest to disclose.
Reviewer Information: Erika Caceres BS, HTL(ASCP), has nearly eight years of experience as a histotechnologist, progressing from bench technician to pathology supervisor. She has expertise in tissue preparation, staining, and advanced histological techniques, including immunohistochemistry. Her leadership roles at Atrium Health involved directing workflow, optimizing antibodies, and ensuring compliance with CAP and CLIA regulations. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Queens University of Charlotte, where she focused on microbiology and cell biology, followed by completing her Histotechnology training at Carolinas College of Health Sciences.
Course Description: This course discusses alternatives to xylene that are less toxic. It reviews the types of these alternatives, the advantages and disadvantages of each type, the commercial names of each alternative, and some techniques for optimal histology processes with minimum exposure to the toxins associated with xylene. It also lets readers be aware of the potential positive impact the less toxic alternatives can have on the health and environment while having the potential to be cost-effective overall.
