Histology stains

Question 1

Giemsa/Wright stain

Answer 1

• binds to phosphate groups between A and T
• used primarily for peripheral blood smears (leukemia or bacterial infections)
• Nuclei blue or purple

Question 2

Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E)

Answer 2

• primary stain for tissues in pathology (hard to see basal lamina)
• Hematoxylin with mordant = basic: recognition of anionic tissues (chromatin/nuclei)
• Eosin: red general cytoplasmic stain (acidophilic)

Question 3

Periodic acid Schiff and hematoxylin stain

Answer 3

• specific to carbohydrates and carbohydrate compounds (very easy to see basal lamina – done after H&E stain.
• Important in diabetic changes in the kidney. Mesangium grows, spun sugar sticks on it, obliterates capillaries, makes it hard for glomerulus to function, thickening basement membrane

Question 4

Immunohisochemistry

Answer 4

Uses labeled antibodies to identify antigens (Normal cells, cancer cells, microbes have unique antigens)

Most often used to investigate

infection and neoplasia

Can also be used to determine

treatment and response to

treatment

Question 5

Process of preparation

Answer 5

Collect: FNA,needle, biopsy,autopsy

Fixation:to preserve tissue and prevent degradation

-Formalin-light microscopy

Glutaraldehyde-electron microscopy

Embedding, sectioning-allow tissue to be sliced thin enough for microscopy

Staining