Course Outline
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- Xylene in Histology
- Toxicity of Xylene
- Toxicity of Xylene
- Health Hazards Associated with Xylene
- Regulations of Xylene Exposure
- What actually makes xylene toxic?
- Alternatives to Xylene
- Less Toxic Alternatives to Xylene
- What Makes the Alternatives Less Toxic than Xylene?
- True or False: The alternative solvents are less toxic than xylene because they lack or have fewer benzene ring structures than xylene.
- Aliphatic Solvents
- Aliphatic Solvents as Alternatives to Xylene
- Trade-Offs of Using Aliphatic Solvents
- Which one is not true about aliphatic solvents?
- True or False: Aliphatic solvents are safer than xylene, but one of the trade-offs is that they are slower than xylene.
- Terpenes as Alternatives to Xylene
- Trade-Offs of Using Terpenes
- Examples of Terpenes
- The structures of terpenes are:
- Naphthenic Solvents as Alternatives to Xylene
- Trade-Offs of Using Naphthenic Clearants
- Examples of Naphthenic Clearants
- True or False: Naphthenic solvents are potentially more toxic than terpenes.
- Paraffinic and Isoparaffinic Hydrocarbon Solvents as Alternatives to Xylene
- Trade-Offs of Using Paraffinic and Isoparaffinic Hydrocarbon Clearants
- Examples of Paraffinic and Isoparaffinic Hydrocarbon Clearants
- The structures of paraffinic and isoparaffinic hydrocarbon are:
- Combining Xylene and Xylene’s Alternatives
- Biodegradable and Recyclable Xylene Alternatives
- Other Potential Alternatives
- Deciding on the Right Alternative to Xylene
- Which of the following statements is not true? Carrot, olive, pine, and rose oils need further study to:
- 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.
