What is the listed temperature for drying sections?

• A. 45°C
• B. 37°C
• C. 55°C
• D. 60°C

Answer: (A)

Drying sections uses gentle heat to evaporate residual moisture without harming the tissue or the stain. About 45°C is chosen because it’s warm enough to speed up evaporation, reducing drying time, but cool enough to avoid damaging morphology or causing color changes. A temperature of 37°C would dry too slowly, leaving sections damp and prone to folds or detachment. Higher temperatures like 55°C or 60°C risk tissue distortion, protein denaturation, and dye migration, which can compromise the quality of the slide. So 45°C provides the safe, effective compromise for drying sections before mounting.