Liquid dish washing soap: An excellent substitute for xylene and alcohol in hematoxylin and eosin staining procedure

• Main Authors: Surekha Ramulu (Author), Anila Koneru (Author), Shamala Ravikumar (Author), Priyadarshini Sharma (Author), D. N. S. V Ramesh (Author), Ramesh Patil (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications, 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 0975-8844; 10.4103/0975-8844.99890
• Keywords: Alcohol, dewaxing, eosin, hematoxylin, liquid dish washing soap, xylene; Dentistry; RK1-715
• Source: Journal of Orofacial Sciences, Vol 4, Iss 1, Pp 37-42 (2012)

Aims: Liquid dish washing solution (DWS) was used as a substitute for xylene to dewax tissue sections during hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) staining. The aim was to test and compare the hypothesis that xylene-ethanol free (XEF) sections deparaffinized with diluted DWS are better than or at par with the conventional H and E sections. Materials and Methods: Fifty paraffin-embedded tissue blocks was included. One section was stained with conventional HandE (group A) and the other with XEF HandE (group B) staining method. Slides were scored for parameters: nuclear, cytoplasmic, clarity, uniformity, and crispness of staining. Z test was used for statistical analysis. For accuracy of diagnosis, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were tested. Results: Adequate nuclear staining was noted in 94% in group A and 96% in group B, -adequate cytoplasmic staining in 92% in group A and 86% in group B, clarity in 94% of group A and 96% of group B sections, uniform staining in 92% of group A and 80% of group B sections, crisp stain in 96% of group A and 88% of group B sections, and 94% of group A sections stained adequately for diagnosis as compared with 90% in group B sections. Conclusion: Liquid DWS can be used as an alternative and effective substitute to xylene and ethanol in routine HandE staining procedure.