Hematoxylin and eosin stain

Hematoxylin and eosin stain, abbreviated H&E, is the most widely used standard stain in pathology.

Hematoxylin and eosin stain
Stain in short
Hematoxylin and eosin stain of benign prostate. (WC)
Abbreviation	H&E, HE
Use	the standard stain in pathology
Interpretation	blue (hematoxylin) = nucleus, pink (eosin) = cytoplasm

General

• Standard bearer in most pathology departments.^{[citation needed]}

Intepretation

• Blue (hematoxylin) = nucleus.
• Pink (eosin) = cytoplasm.

Note:

• The above is why it is said (tongue-in-cheek) that blue is bad and pink is dead.

Images

• 

  Cecal adenocarcinoma. H&E stain. (WC)

• 

  Basal cell carcinoma. H&E stain. (WC)

See also

• Stains.
• Basics.