Patent ID: 6855559

Claim:
A method of removing a paraffin based embedding medium from a biological sample, the method comprising the steps of: loading a plurality of biological samples into an automated apparatus wherein the biological samples are embedded with a paraffin based embedding medium that includes infused media; heating the biological sample containing paraffin based embedding medium to a temperature at or above the paraffin based embedding medium's melting point to form a liquefied paraffin based embedding medium; and applying a liquefied paraffin based embedding medium immiscible liquid including a detergent to the biological sample to separate the liquefied paraffin based embedding medium from the biological sample; and rinsing the separated liquefied paraffin based embedding medium from the biological sample with a rinsing liquid or gas such that essentially all of the paraffin based embedding medium, including infused media, is removed from the biological sample.