Dear Tammy,
ordinarily Dimethyl Benzene (Xylene) can  be substituted  for any
requirement for Benzene. In this case it works!
Regards Mike Rentsch (Downunder)
-----Original Message-----
From: Tammy Bird <VVTBIRD@ihc.com>
To: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu <histonet@pathology.swmed.edu>
Date: Tuesday, 10 November 1998 4:29
Subject: Urate crystals


>My pathologist just requested that I do a procedure from Theory and
>Practice of Histotechnology (Sheehan's book) pg 151, Fixing and
>processing uric acid and sodium urate crystals.  My question is:
>After fixing in alcohol, processing in acetone is it necessary to use
>Benzene?  We do not have any Benzene and I really don't want to buy
>any, so can I substitute Xylene?
>
>Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.
>
>Tammy
>