HP Job- Stains + Purpose

• Periodic acid and Schiffs reagent

• Carbohydrate stain

  • Glycogen granules. - hepatic abnormality

  • Neutral mucin (goblet cells) - adenocarcinoma

• Fungal organisms

What of the purpose of a PAS stain? (3)

• polysaccharide and periodic acid form aldehyde

• Aldehyde reacts with Schiff to form magenta

What is the principle of a PAS stain

• Connective tissue

  • Collagen

  • Elastin

  • Fibrin

What is the purpose of a trichrome stain?

• Collagen fibres (pink fibres)

• Fibrosis + vascular disorders

What is the purpose of a Van Geison stain? (2)

• Elastin fibres

• Modify to detect hep B in liver

What is the purpose of the Orcein stain? (2)

• Demonstrate muscle and collagen at the same time

• Fibrosis, assessing tumor invasion

What is the purpose of a Masson’s Trichrome? (3)

• Martius yellow, scarlet red, methyl blue

• Fibrin stain (red - not muscle)

• Blue collagen

• Yellow RBC

What is the purpose of an MSB stain? (3)

Porous tissue vs smaller dye molecule

What is the general principle of trichrome stains?

• Malaria parasites.

What is the purpose of a Giemsa stain?

• Negative structures (acidic structures, nuclei acids and acidic mucins) attract haematoxylin

• Positively charged, basic structures, attract eosin.

How does an H&E stain work?

Acid alcohol for blueing.

What is the other component of an H&E stain?