A clearing agent and mounting solution for microscopy is disclosed comprising at least trichloroethanol and/or derivatives thereof, where the refractive index of the solution is greater than or equal to about 1.3810. Also disclosed are methods of preparing specimens for microscopy.

A method of fixating a tissue sample includes treating the tissue sample having a pre-treatment composition with a propolis-containing composition to form a fixated tissue sample having a post-treatment composition. The propolis-containing composition includes a propolis extract and at least one liquid. The pre-treatment composition comprises a mixture of proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, lipids, minerals, and vitamins. The mixture of nucleic acids, carbohydrates, lipids, minerals, and vitamins in the pre-treatment composition is the same as that in the post-treatment composition. The propolis extract is present in the propolis-containing composition at a concentration of 0.1 to 50 weight percentage (wt. %), based on a total of the propolis-containing composition. After the treating, the proteins in the pre-treatment composition of the tissue sample are crosslinked by resin and wax in the propolis extract. The cellular structural integrity of the tissue sample maintains after the treating.

The present disclosure provides methods for carrying out Romanowsky-type stains, specifically Wright-Giemsa and May-Grnwald stains, quickly and efficiently. The methods greatly reduce the overall amount of time required to complete a Wright-Giemsa stain or a May-Grnwald stain of sufficient quality on a biological sample. The subject methods can be applied to both manual and automated staining procedures.

It has surprisingly been discovered that it is possible to stabilise biomolecules such as RNA, DNA and proteins in biological samples such as cells, tissues, biopsies and blood using deep eutectic solvents (DES). It has also been discovered that DES mixtures can be used to fix and preserve cell morphology in biological samples such as tissue blocks, cancer biopsies and whole blood. This invention describes methods to stabilise and preserve biomolecules, whole cells, tissues, blood and biological samples using DES mixtures.

A smear preparing apparatus includes: a smear unit that prepares a smear slide by smearing a sample on a slide; a buffer solution preparation unit that prepares diluted buffer solution by diluting a highly-concentrated buffer solution; a diluted staining solution preparation unit that prepares diluted staining solution by diluting a highly-concentrated staining solution with the diluted buffer solution; and a stain unit that stains the smear slide prepared by the smear unit with the diluted staining solution.

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for using fixed biological samples in partition-based assays. In at least one embodiment, the disclosure provides a composition comprising a fixed biological sample and an un-fixing agent contained in a partition, such as a discrete droplet. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides un-fixing agent compounds capable of catalytically cleaving crosslinks in fixed biological samples, particularly crosslinked nucleic acids, such as RNA.

It has surprisingly been discovered that it is possible to stabilise biomolecules such as RNA, DNA and proteins in biological samples such as cells, tissues, biopsies and blood using deep eutectic solvents (DES). It has also been discovered that DES mixtures can be used to fix and preserve cell morphology in biological samples such as tissue blocks, cancer biopsies and whole blood. This invention describes methods to stabilise and preserve biomolecules, whole cells, tissues, blood and biological samples using DES mixtures.

It has surprisingly been discovered that it is possible to stabilize biomolecules such as RNA, DNA and proteins in biological samples such as cells, tissues, biopsies and blood using deep eutectic solvents (DES). It has also been discovered that DES mixtures can be used to fix and preserve cell morphology in biological samples such as tissue blocks, cancer biopsies and whole blood. This invention describes methods to stabilize and preserve biomolecules, whole cells, tissues, blood and biological samples using DES mixtures.

A single dissolving compound forms plural azeotropes, which can be azeotropically vaporized off at various stages of the treatment process, thus maintaining predictable concentrations of the chemicals present. The treatment process can be performed in the absence of formalin or related compounds which can interfere with the preservation of genetic material. A process for preserving a specimen includes using a dissolving compound that can form a plural number of azeotropes, at least one azeotrope being formed between one or more components of the dissolving compound and specimen-supplied water, and at least one azeotrope being formed between different components of the dissolving compound; successively and azeotropically vaporizing off formed azeotropes; and impregnating the specimen with a support medium.

A single dissolving compound forms plural azeotropes, which can be azeotropically vaporized off at various stages of the treatment process, thus maintaining predictable concentrations of the chemicals present. The treatment process can be performed in the absence of formalin or related compounds which can interfere with the preservation of genetic material. A process for preserving a specimen includes using a dissolving compound that can form a plural number of azeotropes, at least one azeotrope being formed between one or more components of the dissolving compound and specimen-supplied water, and at least one azeotrope being formed between different components of the dissolving compound; successively and azeotropically vaporizing off formed azeotropes; and impregnating the specimen with a support medium.