Valerie,

I have used Propar from Anatech and Clearite from Richard Allen very
successfully here in our lab. The thing I don't like about a xylene
substitute is it doesn't work as well as xylene. I  have to change my
solutions more often. I am not licensed to Xylene in the building, so I
have no choice but to used substitutes.

I have used Clearite from Richard Allen in a hospital setting and I had no
problems with IHC slides. Again you must change the solutions more often. I
have not used Propar for clearing slides for IHC,  however, this does not
mean it doesn't work.

Hope this helps your decision.

Mari Ann Mailhiot BA HT
Applications Specialist
Technical Assistance Center
Leica Microsystems
800 248 0123





Valerie Hannen  on 05/26/2002 10:23:07 PM

To:   histonet 
cc:

Subject:  Xylene substitutes



Does anyone know of any "great" xylene  substitutes?
We need one that is good for all aspects of  processing.
Processing, staining, coverslipping. It can't have  a terrible
citrus smell (tried one like that and it was  horrible). Must
be ok to use with IHC. Our safety officer wants us  to try
"safer" clearing agents.

Thanks for any input you can give me.

Valerie Hannen,MLT(ASCP),HTL
Parrish Medical Center
Titusville, Florida 32796