There are alcohols other than ethanol on the market that can work just as well for staining. Methanol, isopropyl alcohol (IPA), and Flex alcohols are the most common and can be more cost-effective for laboratories than using ethanol. Flex alcohol manufacturers combine ethanol, methanol, and IPA together in different mixtures with varying concentrations of each type of alcohol. If you have any concerns about using a particular reagent on your automated stainer, always check with the instrument manufacturer for compatibility concerns. In the end, make sure that your stain has been validated.
