What is the purpose of using vacuum infiltration?

Vacuum infiltration is an important technique used primarily in histology and tissue processing. The purpose of using vacuum infiltration is to enhance the penetration of embedding media into tissue samples, which can significantly speed up the overall tissue processing time. By applying a vacuum, air is removed from the tissue and the embedding medium is allowed to fill the spaces within the tissue more effectively. This results in thorough infiltration of the tissue with the medium, allowing for better preservation of the structural integrity and cellular details.

While enhancing staining quality is an important aspect of tissue processing, the primary function of vacuum infiltration is to expedite the processing phase itself. Other methods of processing may not achieve the same speed or efficiency in infiltrating the media into the tissue, which is vital for obtaining clear and accurate sections for microscopic examination later. In this context, vacuum infiltration directly influences the time management and efficiency of tissue processing, making it a crucial step in histological procedures.