Ethanol dehydration antigen retrieval

Overheating the microwave oven tends to result in boiling or excessively rapid evaporation of fluids such as ethanol used for dehydration, formaldehyde employed for fixation, and the antigen retrieval fluid. As a result, flammable and/or toxic materials are released in the microwave oven. Even without overheating, vapors are produced because containers are kept open in the oven to prevent pressurization. Transparent microwave containers should be used, fluid volumes should be -100ml. Microwave ovens with attached efficient extractor fans are commercially available, as are microwave ovens with temperature probes. To avoid possible exposure to toxic vapors, the face should be turned away when the oven door is opened (Horobin and Fleming, 1990). The oven door should not be opened or closed to turn the microwave power on and off. 

---