Histo stains

Verhoeff stain (color; what it stains)

brown/black; elastic fiber

Orcein

brown/purple; elastic fiber

Chromaffin reaction

brown; amine (neurotransmitter/hormones)

Periodic acid-Schiff stain

pink; polysaccharide, mucins, glycolipids

Sudan stain

black/red; lipid

Osmium tetroxide

brown/black; phospholipids, myelin

Silver stain

brown/black; reticular fiber, elastic fiber, neuronal extension, basement membrane, necleoli, chromaffin cell granules

Alkaline phosphatase

black;

Mallory’s trichrome (combo)

aniline blue, acid fuchsin, orange G

Masson’s trichrome

methyl blue, fast green, acid fuchsin

Heidenhain’s azan trichrome

aniline blue, azocarmine, orange g

Giemsa stain

methyl blue, azure b, eosin

Wright stain

methylene blue, eosin

Gomori’s stain

iron hematolxylin, aniline blue,

Papanicoulau’s stain

hematozylin, orange g

Basic stain

hematoxylin, methylene blue, azure b, toluidine blue, basic fuchsin

Acidic stain

eosin, aniline blue, orange g, acid fuchsin, fast green

Methylene blue

blue

Azure b

blue

Toluidine blue

blue

Basic fuchsin

magenta

Eosin

orange/pink

Aniline blue

blue

Orange G

orange

Acid fuchsin

magenta

Fast green

green