Stained slides appear hazy or milky. What is the cause?

Study for the CAMLPR Histology Practice Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Proper solvent exchange and clearing are essential for optical clarity in stained slides. Xylene is used to clear tissue after dehydration, making it optically transparent. If xylene remains on the slide when you start the water-based steps, water and xylene won’t mix, so the clearing process isn’t completed and infiltration between reagents is incomplete. The tissue ends up with refractive index mismatches that scatter light, giving a hazy or milky appearance under the microscope. Ensuring all xylene is removed before moving to water steps prevents this artifact.