Compositions and methods are provided for dewaxing wax-embedded biological
specimens prior to histochemical analysis. The compositions and methods
provided can effectively remove wax or improved wax-based embedding
materials, particularly paraffin-based, from specimens during preparation
for histochemical or other diagnostic analyses, while minimizing danger
to users, achieving compatibility with automated use, and maintaining
compatibility with downstream histochemical analyses, particularly
immunostaining. Compositions of the invention comprise a
paraffin-solubilizing organic solvent, a polar organic solvent, and a
surfactant. Compositions can further comprise water. The method involves
contacting a wax-embedded specimen with the dewaxing composition to
solubilize the wax impregnating the specimen prior to histochemical
analysis. The method can comprise the further step of washing the dewaxed
specimen immediately after dewaxing with an aqueous wash composition
comprising a detergent to remove residual dewaxing composition. Also
provided is a kit for dewaxing a wax-embedded specimen, which comprises a
dewaxing composition and can further comprise a second composition of (1)
an immunostaining reagent or (2) an aqueous wash solution comprising a
detergent for removing residual dewaxing solution.