In paraffin embedding, the oven temperature is set to maintain melted paraffin at approximately which temperature?

• A. 50 C
• B. 60 C
• C. 70 C
• D. 80 C

Answer: (B)

Keeping melted paraffin at about 60°C provides the right balance between fluidity and tissue safety. Paraffin wax used for embedding melts in a narrow range around 52–60°C, and setting the oven near 60°C keeps the wax sufficiently fluid to infiltrate the tissue and surround fine structures without being so hot that it damages or distorts the tissue. If the temperature is lowered to around 50°C, the wax becomes more viscous and infiltration can be incomplete, leading to poor embedding. If it’s raised to 70–80°C, the wax is overly fluid, increasing the risk of tissue distortion, loss of lipids, or other heat-related artifacts. So, about 60°C is the optimal compromise for paraffin embedding.