Which concentration of alcohol should be used for dehydration after running water?

For tissue processing in histopathology, dehydration is a crucial step that typically follows fixation. The process involves removing water from the tissue to allow for better infiltration with embedding media, such as paraffin.

When it comes to the concentration of alcohol used for dehydration, different concentrations serve different purposes. While 70% ethanol is widely recognized as the standard concentration for dehydrating biological tissues, other concentrations might also be used in specific scenarios for the same purpose.

30% alcohol can begin to dehydrate tissues, but it may not be as effective as higher concentrations since the dehydration process is gradual. Similarly, 50% alcohol is used less frequently but can still assist in the dehydration process, though it is also weaker compared to higher concentrations.

In practical applications, using all these concentrations can still effectively remove water from tissues in stages. Therefore, the option suggesting that any of these concentrations can be utilized accurately reflects the flexibility in histological practices. Each concentration has its utility in different contexts depending on the specific needs of the tissue being processed and the desired outcomes.