Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) Practice Exam

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Which reagent is used to embed tissue after processing?

Permount
Formic acid
Xylene
Paraffin

The correct answer is: Paraffin

The correct reagent for embedding tissue after processing is paraffin. Paraffin is a waxy substance that provides excellent support and structure for tissue specimens, allowing for precise slicing during sectioning. The embedding process involves infiltrating the processed tissue with molten paraffin, which solidifies upon cooling, effectively preserving the morphology of the tissue. This encapsulation is crucial for maintaining cell integrity and facilitating detailed examination under a microscope. While other substances like Permount and xylene are used in specific steps of the histological process, such as mounting or as a solvent for infiltrating agents, they do not serve the primary function of embedding. Formic acid is primarily used as a decalcifying agent rather than for embedding purposes. Thus, paraffin stands out as the key agent used to solidify and preserve tissue specimens for histological analysis.