Patent ID: 7666620

Claim:
A method for histologically processing a solid biological tissue specimen for histopathological evaluation, the method comprising, (a) contacting a biological tissue specimen equal or <5.0 mm thick with a fixative solution comprising (i) formalin buffered to a substantially neutral pH, and (ii) at least about 95% (v/v) ethanol, at about 55° C. to about 57° C.; then, (b) contacting said tissue specimen with a dehydration solution comprising about 90% (v/v) isopropanol and about 9% (v/v) methanol, at about 55° C. to about 57° C.; and then, (c) contacting said tissue specimen with a clearing solution, wherein the processing of said biological tissue specimen equal or <5.0 mm thick in the presence of centrifugal agitation at a temperature not exceeding 57° C. without exposing the tissue specimen to microwave radiation is in less than about five hours.