Bring section to water in histopathology?

Answer 1

During the processing of a biopsy for routine sectioning and staining, the tissue is dehydrated first by passing it under progressively higher concentrations of alcohol. Then the alcohol is cleared using either Chloroform or Xylene and then tissue is impregnated with wax to make it hard enough to cut thin sections. After the sections are cut and laid on glass slides, the wax is removed using same clearing agent. As most stains or dyes are in aqueous solutions, the clearing agent is removed by alcohol and the tissue section is gradually hydrated by passing it through descending concentrations of alcohol and finally it is : brought to water after which it is stained. The process of reverting back the sections to water by gradual rehydration is know as bringing the section to water.