Stains Flashcards
(133 cards)
Verhoeff-van Gieson (VVG)
targets elastic fibers, collagen, and connective tissue; most commonly used collagen/elastin stain; distinguishes between various perforating diseases
Masson trichrome
targets collagen fibers, smooth muscle; stains the inclusions (red) in infantile digital fibromatosis
Movat’s pentachrome
targets elastic fibers, collagen, smooth muscle, fibrin; stains the inclusions (red) in infantile digital fibromatosis
Phosphotungistic acid hematoxylin (PTAH)
targets collagen, smooth muscle, fibrin; stains the inclusions (blue) in infantile digital fibromatosis
Oil-red-O
targets lipids; stains red
Sudan black B
targets lipids; stains black
Scarlet red
targets lipids; stains red-brown
Perls / Prussian blue
targets hemosiderin / iron; stains blue; most commonly used in conjunction with Fontana-Masson to distinguish between melanin (black on FM) and hemosiderin pigment. [Does not stain iron in intact RBCs so not a good choice for talon noir.]
Von Kossa
targets calcium; stains brown-black; most commonly used “calcium stain,” but actually stains the anions rather than calcium itself → less calcium-specific than Alizarin red
Alizarin red
targets calcium; stains red-orange; more specific for calcium than Von Kossa
Alcian blue pH 0.5
Targets Sulfated acid MPS (heparin, chondroitin, dermatan sulfates); stains blue; most mucin in normal skin is sulfated acid MPS. [Hyaluronic acid is nonsulfated and does not stain.]
Alcian blue pH 2.5
Targets Nonsulfated acid MPS (hyaluronic acid); stains blue; in diseases w/ incr. mucin (lupus, GA, follicular mucinosis), most mucin is hyaluronic acid. [HIGH-luronic acid stains with Alcian Blue at HIGH pH.] Note: sulfated acid MPS stain with Alcian blue at both pH’s
Colloidal iron
targets Acid MPS (sulfated and nonsulfated); stains blue; Hyaluronidase may be added to distinguish between HA and other mucin types
Mucicarmine
targets epithelial mucin; stains pink-red; used primarily for sialomucin, adenocarcinoma, Paget’s disease, and Cryptococcus (capsule). Not good for dermal mucins.
Periodic acid Schiff (PAS)
targets neutral MPS (BM), fungi, glycogen; stains pink; Primarily used to highlight BMZ material. Also positive in clear cell acanthoma and trichilemmoma (glycogen). Does not stain acid MPS (HA and other mucins).
Toluidine blue
Most commonly used as mast cell stain – targets mast cell granules. Also targets Acid MPS but rarely used for mucin. Stains red-purple.
Congo red
targets amyloid; stains pink-red w/apple-green birefringence on polarization; Most commonly used amyloid stain. In real world, not always reliable for macular/lichen amyloid
Thioflavin T
targets amyloid (on fluorescence microscopy); stains yellow-green;
Cresyl violet
targets amyloid; stains red; Of note, cotton dyes (Pagoda red, Dylon) also stain amyloid
Stains that target Collagen / Elastic fibers
VVG
Stains that target Smooth Muscle
Masson trichrome; Movat’s pentachrome; PTAH
Stains that target Lipids
Oil-red-O; Sudan black B; Scarlet Red (must be performed on frozen tissue)
Stains that target Iron / Hemosiderin
Perls / Prussian Blue
Stains that target Calcium
Von Kossa; Alizarin Red (more specific)
