Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS)

Question 1

What is the primary purpose of Periodic Acid Schiff staining?

Answer 1

• PAS staining is primarily used to detect fungi in tissue specimens.

Question 2

What color does fungal elements stained with PAS typically appear as?

Answer 2

• Fungal elements stained with PAS will typically impart a pink-red or bright magenta color.

Question 3

Why is PAS staining considered useful for staining tissue specimens?

Answer 3

• it demonstrates the details of fungal elements in tissues
• results in a distinctive pink-red color for those elements
• making them easy to identify against a green-stained background.