Pathology
Histopathology
Stains (click for more info)
Haematoxylin and eosin
Features
Haematoxylin (basic) stains acidic structures purplish/blue eg DNA, ribosomes, rEREosin (acidic) stains basic structures red or pink eg most cytoplasmic proteins and amyloid
Uses
Commonly used
Periodic acid-Schiff
Features
Outlines tissue structures eg. BMs, capsules, blood vessels
Uses
Acanthomoeba cysts and fungi
PAS-positive material in homocystinuria
Alcian blue
Features
Highlights mucopolysaccharide
Uses
Corneal macular dystrophy
Colloidal iron
Features
Stains mucopolysaccharide blue
Uses
Corneal macular dystrophy
Congo red
Features
Highlights amyloid with 'apple' green birefringence
Uses
Corneal lattice dystrophy
Masson trichrome
Features
Highlights hyaline materials red
Highlights new collagen blue
Uses
Corneal granular dystrophy
Reis-Buckler epithelial dystrophy
Perl's prussian blue
Features
Intracellular corneal epithelial iron causing Fleischer rings
Stocker line of iron at the advancing edge of a pterygium
Ferry line at base of trabeculectomy bleb
Uses
Fleischer rings: Keratoconus
Stocker line: pterygium
Ferry line: trab bleb
Gram stain
Features
Gentian violet and Lugol's iodine create a blue/black complex on the charged bacterial cell wall (gram positive)
Uses
Gram positive vs Gram negative species
Ziehl-Neelsen
Features
Mycobacteria
Uses
Acid-fast bacilli (TB)
Grocott hexamine/methanamine
Features
Black
Uses
Fungi and acanthomoeba
Calcoflour white
Features
Requires fluorescent microscope
Uses
Fungi (and acanthomoeba?)
Acridine orange
Features
Requires fluorescent microscope
Uses
Fungi
Giemsa
Features
Blue-purple inclusion bodies
Uses
Chlamydia
(Fungi)
DNA: reveals alternating bands
Oil red O
Features
Stains fat within cells red
Uses
Sebaceous cell carcinoma
Sudan black
Features
Stains lipid
Uses
Sebaceous cell carcinoma
Von Kossa
Features
Stains calcium black
Uses
| Stain | Features | Uses |
| Haematoxylin and eosin | Haematoxylin (basic) stains acidic structures purplish/blue eg DNA, ribosomes, rEREosin (acidic) stains basic structures red or pink eg most cytoplasmic proteins and amyloid | Commonly used |
| Periodic acid-Schiff | Outlines tissue structures eg. BMs, capsules, blood… |