A student processed tissue and cut short the paraffin stage leaving the
blocks saturated with clearing agent (a xylene substitute).  I asked her
to do the last two paraffin stages again under vacuum, but as I cut the
tissues they are still very soft and a cloud of agent comes off the waterbath.

The sections are soft and sticky and only the first 2 or three can be used
after a longer exposure to ice.

My questions are:

1. Is there anything that can be done to improve this process?

2. Will the brdu and IHC staining be effected by the clearing
agent?

3. Is there any way of dealing with my exposure to the clearing agent..it
is giving me a headache and making me feel slightly dizzy and nauseas.

Thank you,
Trisha
U of Washington