The use of clean and fresh dewaxing reagents is essential for the removal of paraffin from the slide prior to the addition of the dyes. While xylene is the most commonly used solvent, xylene substitutes are gaining in popularity because they are considered less hazardous and more eco-friendly. Water in solvents, whether from reagent contamination or a high humidity environment, reduces the ability of the solvent to remove the paraffin. Remaining paraffin prevents the dyes from penetrating the tissues, thus giving an uneven appearance.
The simplest way to prevent this from occurring is to change reagents more frequently. Adding a small amount of desiccant pellets (about a tablespoon per reagent vessel) will also reduce water contamination within solvents. These measures are especially important when using a xylene substitute, as these reagents tend to be far less tolerant of any water contamination than xylene.
