Question.

Could you suggest a processing schedule suitable for skin?

Answer.

This is my processing schedule for skin dehydration and embedding.

By Hand.

The times suit my working day. I'm sure they could be altered for any work pattern.

    1.) 80% alcohol.                =  2 pm.
    2.) 80% alcohol.                =  5 pm - overnight.
    3.) Abs.alc./8% phenol.     =  9 am.
    4.) Abs. alcohol.               =  10 am.
    5.) Abs. alcohol.               =  12 am.
    6.) Abs.alc./amyl acetate. =  3 pm.
    7.) Amyl acetate.              =  4 pm.
    8.) Amyl acetate.              =  5 pm. - overnight.
    9.) Amyl acetate.              =  9 am.
   10.) Amyl acetate.             =  12 am.
   11.) Xylene.                       =  3 pm.
   12.) Wax.                          =  4 pm.
   13.) Wax.                          =  5pm. - overnight.
   14.) Wax.                          =  Embed.

Tissue Processor.

These times I use on a Shandon Histokinette, remember them ?.

    1.) 80% alcohol.                 =  2 hours.
    2.) 80% alcohol.                 =  2 hours.
    3.) Abs. alc./8% phenol.     =  1 hour.
    4.) Abs. alcohol.                =  3 hours.
    5.) Abs. alcohol.                =  3 hours.
    6.) Abs.alc./amyl acetate. =  1 hour.
    7.) Amyl acetate.              =  3 hours.
    8.) amyl acetate.              =  3 hours.
    9.) Amyl acetate.              =  3 hours.
   10.) Amyl acetate.             =  5 hours.
   11.) Xylene.                       =  1 hour.
   12.) Wax.                          =  9 hours.
   13.) Wax.                          =  9 hours.
   14.) Embed.

Ian Montgomery
University of Glasgow, Scotland
(I.Montgomery[AT]bio.gla.ac.uk)