Which of the following factors does NOT affect the infiltration of wax?

The factor that does not affect the infiltration of wax is the duration of the staining process. Infiltration of wax into tissue samples is primarily influenced by the properties of the embedding material, the size and type of tissue being embedded, and the clearing agent used in the preparation process.

The embedding material must have compatible characteristics for effective penetration into the tissue, while the size and type of the tissue determine how easily the wax can infiltrate. For instance, larger or denser tissues may require more time and specific conditions for proper infiltration. The clearing agent is crucial because it removes water from the tissue and facilitates the penetration of wax; if an inappropriate clearing agent is used, it can hinder this process.

In contrast, while staining is an important component of tissue preparation, it serves a different purpose and does not directly influence how well wax infiltrates the tissue. The staining process occurs after the infiltration phase, meaning it does not play a role in how effectively the wax penetrates the tissue. Therefore, the duration of staining is not relevant to the infiltration process itself.