We also use the peanut or mineral oil/xylene to deparaffinize.  It helps to
maintain the lipids in the organisms.

In addition we do use 1% acid alcohol (HCl in 70% ETOH) to decolorize, and
have had no problems with overdecolorization in our Fites.

Kathy Johnston
Tech II - Special Stains
Anatomic Pathology - Foothills Medical Center
Calgary Laboratory Services
Ph - 403-944-4760
Fax - 403-270-4093
kathy.johnston@cls.ab.ca


-----Original Message-----
From: Tague, Curtis [mailto:CTague@ahs.llumc.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2003 3:40 PM
To: Histonet (E-mail)
Subject: quest. about fite's AFB


With the peanut oil/xylene step to deparaffinize, is a substitute clearing
agent like histoclear acceptable?

Secondly, just for my knowledge, what purpose does the peanut oil serve, to
simply maintain the structure of the organisms? 

Finally, if I didn't have sulfuric acid to differentiate, would acetic acid
or HCl in water work, I figure they're too strong?

Thanks, 
curt