As with the other protocols, it is preferred to start off with a basic protocol that is fairly easy to adapt to different pathologists' preferences.
Step | Time |
Oven (if on stainer) | 15 mins |
Xylene | 2 mins |
Xylene | 2 mins |
Xylene | 2 mins |
100% ethanol | 2 mins |
100% ethanol | 2 mins |
95% ethanol | 1 min |
Water wash | 1 min |
Hematoxylin | 3 mins |
Water wash | 2 mins |
Bluing | 1 min |
Water wash | 1 min |
95% ethanol | 1 min |
Eosin Y | 45 secs |
95% ethanol | 30 secs |
100% ethanol | 1 min |
100% ethanol | 1 min |
Xylene | 2 mins |
Xylene | 2 mins |
Remember, there is flexibility if you would like an additional xylene at the beginning and/or at the end prior to coverslipping. It has also been found that this protocol works well with just about any commercially-available hematoxylin or eosin. The protocol is also slightly shorter without any differentiation.