Stains
This article deals with stains. H&E isn't the only stain out there...
Where to start...
Principles
When considering additional (i.e. special) stains one should (in order) do the following:[1]
- Make sure one has exhausted the clinical history; history is considered the best special stain.
- Special stains (below).
- Immunohistochemistry (dealt with in a separate article).
- Molecular testing, electron microscopy.
Common stains
Immunohistochemistry
General
- Abbreviated IHC.
Interpretation
Simple version:
- Positive is (usually): brown.
- Negative tissue is: light blue.
Important notes:
- One has to know where the target (of the antibody) is supposed to be, i.e. cytoplasm vs. cell membrane.
- The edge of the tissue may have light staining - edge effect.
- If everything is brown... suspect that it didn't work.
- In some situations you're blessed with an internal control, e.g. in renal tumours CD10 will stain RCC and the proximal tubule, in GISTs - CD117 the mast cells are positive.
Work-up of infection
It often not possible to be definitive by staining.[2]
Basic panel:
- Gram stain - for bacteria.
- GMS stain - fungal stain.
- PAS (or PAS-D) - fungal stain.
Fungi
Specific stains
What follows is a big list... of stains.
Haematoxylin and eosin stain
General
- Abbreviated H&E.
- Standard bearer in most pathology departments.
Intepretation
- Blue (haematoxylin) = nucleus.
- Pink (eosin) = cytoplasm.
Haematoxylin phyloxin saffron stain
General
- Abbreviated HPS.
- An alternative to the H&E stain - some pathol. departments use this as their standard.
Interpretation
- Haematoxylin = blue -- stains nucleus.
- Phyloxin = pink.
- Saffron = yellow -- stains collagen.
- An alternative to H&E stain.
- Fibrosis is easier to see on HPS than H&E... as one can see the collagen.
Periodic acid Schiff stain
- Abbreviated PAS.
Primary application
- Kidney biopsies, medical.
- Liver biopsies, medical.
- Positive in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.
Utility
- Stains - lipofuscin,[3] basement membranes, fungi, glycogen, (neutral) mucin.
Interpretation
- Magenta = glycogen, mucin, fungi.
- Blue = nuclei.
Image: Metanephric adenoma - PAS (WC).
Ref.:[4]
Periodic acid Schiff with diastase
- Abbreviated: PAS-D and PASD.
General
- Diastase digests the glycogen.
Use
- Stains mucin.
- Used to identify glycogen (together with PAS stain).
- Glycogen = clear (digested) on PAS-D.
- Glycogen = magenta on PAS.
Notes: [5]
Gomori methenamine-silver stain
- Abbreviated GMS.
Note:
- GMS is "Grocott's methenamine Silver" according to WMSP.[6]
Use
- Useful for fungi.
- Pneumocystis jirovecii - cause of PCP - pneumocystic pneumonia.
- Histoplasma - cause of histoplasmosis.
- Histoplasma = black, round balls.
Image: GMS showing histoplasma (WC).
Acid-fast bacilli stains
- Abbreviated: AFB.
There are several AFB stains:
- Ziehl-Neelson stain - used to look for Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- Fite stain - used to look for Mycobacterium laprae.[7]
- Auramine-rhodamine stain.
Ziehl-Neelsen stain
- Most popular acid-fast bacilli stain.
- Stains other mycobacteria -- not specific for tuberculosis.
- Stains nocardia.[8]
Image: ZN stain (WC/CDC).
Fite stain
Interpretation:
- Red = AFB.
- Blue = background.
Auramine-rhodamine stain
- Fluorescent stain.
Image: AR stain (WC/CDC).
Congo red stain
Use
- Used to look for amyloid.
- Mnemonic: CRAP = congo red amyloid protein.
- An alternate stain for amyloid is Thioflavin T.
Interpretation
- Amyloid = pink/red.
- Nuclei = blue.
Ref.:[9]
Image: Congo red stain - cerebral amyloid angiopathy (WC).
Thioflavin T stain
Use
- Used to look for amyloid.
Interpretation
- Amyloid = green.
Image: Amyloid (inano.au.dk).
Gram stain
Use:
- "It is useless for finding bacteria."[10]
- I suppose this is as you find 'em on H&E... or microbiology finds 'em.
Interpretation
- Purple (or blue) = Gram positive organisms.
- Red = Gram negative organisms, nuclei
- Yellow = background.
Notes:
- Many of the bacteria are quite small relative to lymphocytes; Escherichia coli is 1-2 micrometers long x 0.25 micrometers in diameter.[11]
- Epithelial cell nuclei & stromal cell nuclei may stain red.
- Memory device: purple = positive.
Ref.:[12]
Luxol fast blue stain
- Abbreviated LFB.
Use
- Neuropathology, myelin stain.
Intepretation
- Blue = myelinated fibers (contain lipoproteins), lipofuscin.[13]
- Lack of blue (where it ought to be) = demyelination.
- Purple = nerve cell (e.g. neuron).
- Neutrophils = pink.
Image: Globus pallidus and putamen - H&E-LFB (WC).
Ref.:[14]
Giemsa stain
Use
- Useful for finding mast cells.
- Useful for finding donovan bodies and leishmania.[15]
Interpretation
- Tissue is light blue/green.
Reticulin stain
Use
- Liver biopsy, medical.
- Demonstrates the reticular fibers (in cirrhosis the fibers are disrupted).
- Before IHC, reticulin was used to differentiate sarcomas from carcinomas:[16]
- Sarcomas have reticulin around each cell.
- Carcinomas have reticulin around clusters of cells.
Interpretation
- Black = reticular fibers.
- Red = nuclei.
Notes:[17]
Cresyl violet stain
- Everything is shades of blue.
- Used at some places (e.g. SMH) to look for Helicobacter organisms.
- Helicobacter stains blue.
Prussian blue stain
- AKA Perl's iron stain.
- Useful for iron and hemosiderin; useful for differentiating brown pigments (melanin, lipofuscin, tattoo pigment, hemosiderin).
Image:
Notes:
- Described well by vetmed.vt.edu.[18]
- DDx of brown pigment: Fontana-Masson (melanin), Kluver-Barrera stain (lipofuscin).
Kluver-Barrera stain
Combination of:
- Luxol Fast Blue,
- Cresyl Violet,
- Special component for lipofuscin.
Use
- Useful for differentiating brown pigments (melanin, lipofuscin, tattoo pigment, hemosiderin).
- Stains lipofuscin.
Notes:
- PAS also stains lipofuscin and is more commonly available.
Interpretation
- Blue pigmented granules = lipofuscin.
Notes:
- Described well by vetmed.vt.edu.[19]
- DDx of brown pigment: Fontana-Masson (melanin), Prussian blue stain (hemosiderin).
Oil red O stain
Use
- Stain adipose tissue.
Notes:
- Must be done on fresh tissue, i.e. it cannot be fixed in formalin.
Warthin-Starry stain
Background:
- Developed by a bunch of pathologists in Michigan to look for spirochetes.[20]
Use
- Find spirochetes, e.g. syphilis (Treponema pallidum),[21] cat-scratch disease (Bartonella henselae).
- Find Helicobacter spp., e.g. Helicobacter pylori -- Mount Sinai Hospital.[22]
Interpretation:[23]
- Spirochetes - black.
- Background - yellow.
Image:
Notes:
- Considered a "dirty" stain - picks-up junk in the background.[24]
Dieterle stain
Considered a variant of the Steiner stain.[25]
Use
- Find spirochetes, e.g. syphilis (Treponema pallidum),[26] donovan bodies (leishmaniasis),[27] Helicobacter pylori and Bartonella henselae (Cat-scratch disease).[28]
Interpretation
- Spirochetes - black.
- Background - yellow.
Images: Dieterle stain - T. pallidum (WC), Treponema (med.sc.edu), Spirochetes - several images (med.sc.edu).
Bielschowsky stain
Abbreviated: Biel stain.
Use
- Stains glial tissue, i.e. brain.
- Demonstrates neurofibrillary tangles, senile plaques (as in Alzheimer's disease).
Interpretation
- Black = axons, tangles, plaques.
- Brown/dark brown = plaque, vascular amyloid.
- Yellow/brown = other.
Image: Bielschowsky stain (WC).
Ref.: [29]
Mucicarmine stain
- Stains some mucins... uses the dye carmine.
Use
- Identify mucin.
- Malignant cells that produce mucin... carcinomas.[30]
Interpretation
- Carmine with metanil yellow and Weigert's Hematoxylin:[31]
- Blue/black = nucleus.
- Yellow = background.
- Red = mucin.[32]
Images:
- Mucicarmine stained bowel (medschool.lsuhsc.edu).
- Mucicarmine stained pancreatic adenosquamous carcinoma (nature.com).
Alcian blue
General
- Stains acidic mucin (pH=2.5); Alcian blue = Acidic.
- A variant uses pH=1.0.[6]
Use
- Identify intestinal metaplasia in the stomach -- goblets = blue.
Interpretation
- Blue = acidic mucins.
Notes:[33]
Movat's stain
Use
- Myxomatous degeneration of cardiac valves.
Components
Interpretation of Movat stain
- Black = nuclei and elastic fibers.
- Yellow = collagen and reticular fibers.
- Blue = mucin, ground substance.
- Red (intense) = fibrin.
- Red = muscle.
Reference: [35]
How to remember? A.: Primary colours (red, blue, yellow) + black.
Masson's trichrome stain
- Should not be confused with the Mallory trichrome stain.
- May be referred to as trichrome stain.
General
- Collagen vs. muscle.
Interpretation
- Black = nuclei.
- Red = muscle (smooth muscle actin).
- Baby blue = collagen.
Notes: [36]
Elastic trichrome stain
General:
- "Elastic trichrome" is one important variant of Masson's trichrome.
Interpretation - as above in Masson's trichrome - plus:
- Black = nuclei and elastin.
Mallory trichome stain
- Should not be confused with Masson trichrome stain.
- May be referred to as trichrome stain.
General
- Collagen vs. muscle.
- May be done with elastin.
Site
- Kidney Bx (to assess for fibrosis).
- Considered better than the Masson trichrome stain.
- Liver Bx (to assess for cirrhosis).
- Cardiovascular/lung (to see differentiate the layers of the arteries, and arteries from veins).
Interpretation
- Black = nuclei.
- Red = muscle (smooth muscle actin).
- Green = collagen.
Image:
HOPS stain
- The name is an acronym for... haematoxylin, orcein, phyloxin and saffron.[37]
- It should not be confused with the HPS stain.
Interpretation
- Blue (haematoxylin) = nuclei.
- Black (orcein) = elastin.
- Red (phyloxin) = muscle.
- Yellow (saffron) = collagen.
Jones stain
Use
- Visualize basement membrane in kidney biopsies.
Interpretation
- Black = basement membrane.
- Blue = nuclei.
- Pink = other structures/background.
Notes:[38]
Hale's colloidal iron stain
Use
- Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma vs. renal oncocytoma - chromophobe renal cell carcinoma +ve.[39]
Notes:
Interpretation
- Blue (granular cytoplasmic) staining is positive.[6]
Images:
- ChRCC Hale's colloidal iron (ultrapath.org).[40]
- ChRCC Hale's colloidal iron (diagnosticpathology.org).
Notes:
- Often described as a "fastidious" (difficult/demanding) stain.[41]
- A few staff think this is a totally useless stain.[42]
von Kossa stain
Use
- Look for calcium.
Interpretation
- Black = calcium.[6]
Toluidine blue stain
Use
- May be useful in kidney biopsies.[43][44]
- Stains mast cells, pneumocystis jirovecii.
Interpretation
- Dark blue - nuclei, mast cell granules (darker than nuclei).
- Light blue - cytoplasm.
- Red/magneta - cartilage. (???)
Refs: looks a bit sketchy[45], [46]
Image:
- PCP stained with toluidine blue (mediawiki.org).
- Mast cells stained with toluidine blue (biomedcentral.com).
Romanowsky stain
- Occasionally spelled Romanowski.
- Many variants of this stain exist.
- Specimens are air-dried.
Interpretation:[47]
- Red - RBCs, eosinophil granules.
- Blue (basophilic) - lymphocyte cytoplasm.
- Purple - nuclear chromatin, neutrophil granules, platelets.
Field's stain
- Variant of the Romanowsky stain for rapid processing.
- Tends to "blow-up" cell, i.e. cells are larger vis-a-vis Pap stain.
Diff-Quik
- Proprietary variant of Romanowsky stain.[48]
- Use: cytopathology.
Wright stain
- A variant of the Romanowsky stain; popular in North American.
Use:
- Blood films.
May-Grünwald-Giemsa stain
- A variant of the Romanowsky stain; popular in Europe.
- Abbreviated MGG.
Use:
- Blood films.
- Cytopathology.
Papanicolaou stain
- Often abbreviated Pap stain.
- Can be thought of as the H&E of cytopathology.
- It is a modified H&E stain.
- Specimens are fixed in ethanol.
- Good for seeing nuclear detail.
- Out-of-focus cytoplasm is translucent; allows one to focus overlapped cells in different planes.
Use
- Cytopathology.
Interpretation
- Blue/purple = nucleus.
- Green/pink = cytoplasm.
- Orange = keratin.
Image:
Fontana-Masson stain
- AKA Fontana-Masson stain for melanin, melanin stain.
- A type of silver stain.
Stains:
- Melanin.
- "argentaffin granules" of the digestive tract.
Use
- Stain for melanin.
- Used to differentiate brown pigments (lipofuscin, hemosiderin, melanin).[49]
- Many pathologists prefer IHC, i.e. Melan A over this stain.
- Used to differentiate brown pigments (lipofuscin, hemosiderin, melanin).[49]
Image:
Schmorl's stain
- Stains melanin.
- Similar to Fontana-Masson stain.
Notes:[50]
Martius scarlet blue stain
General
- Stains connective tissue and fibrin.[51]
- Abbreviated MSB.
Use:
- Look for fibrinoid necrosis in vasculitis.
Interpretation
- Muscle and fibrin - red.
- Nuclei = brown/black.
- Collagen - blue.
- Red blood cells - yellow.
Image:
Ref.:[52]
Picro-Mallory stain
General
- Find fibrin.
Interpretation[53]
- Fibrin = red.
- Erythrocytes = yellow.
- Connective tissue = blue.
Image:
Verhoeff-van Gieson stain
General
Use:
- Examine large blood vessels.[55]
Interpretation
- Elastin = black.
- Collagen = bright red.
- Muscle = dull red.
Copper stain
General
- Used in liver biopsies.
- May be seen in Wilson's disease.
Note:
- Copper staining is a non-specific finding seen in many liver diseases; it is associated with impaired bile secretion.[56]
Interpretation
- Copper = red granules.
Images:
Shikata stain
General
- Used in medical liver biopsies - used to find copper.
Interpretation
Features:[60]
- Purple/brown = elastin fibres.
- Red = nuclei.
- Light purple = background
- ??? = Copper associated protein.
See also
References
- ↑ LAE. 13 July 2010.
- ↑ Woods GL, Walker DH (July 1996). "Detection of infection or infectious agents by use of cytologic and histologic stains". Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 9 (3): 382-404. PMC 172900. PMID 8809467. http://cmr.asm.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=8809467.
- ↑ Kovi J, Leifer C (July 1970). "Lipofuscin pigment accumulation in spontaneous mammary carcinoma of A/Jax mouse". J Natl Med Assoc 62 (4): 287–90. PMC 2611776. PMID 5463681. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2611776/pdf/jnma00512-0077.pdf.
- ↑ http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/HISTHTML/MANUALS/PAS.PDF
- ↑ http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/HISTHTML/MANUALS/PASD.PDF
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Humphrey, Peter A; Dehner, Louis P; Pfeifer, John D (2008). The Washington Manual of Surgical Pathology (1st ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 682. ISBN 978-0781765275.
- ↑ URL: http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/HISTHTML/MANUALS/FITES.PDF. Accessed on: 19 May 2011.
- ↑ URL: http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/LUNGHTML/LUNG024.html. Accessed on: 19 May 2011.
- ↑ URL: http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/HISTHTML/MANUALS/CONGORED.PDF. Accessed on: 4 December 2010.
- ↑ SMH handout.
- ↑ URL: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/publications/slidesets/marslife/slide_27.html.
- ↑ http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/HISTHTML/MANUALS/GRAM.PDF
- ↑ MUN. 26 November 2010.
- ↑ http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/HISTHTML/MANUALS/LFB.PDF
- ↑ URL: http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/HISTHTML/STAINS/STAINS.html. Accessed on: April 6, 2009.
- ↑ MACKENZIE DH (March 1958). "Reticulin patterns in the diagnosis of carcinomas and sarcomas". Br. J. Cancer 12 (1): 14–9. PMC 2074006. PMID 13536209. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2074006/.
- ↑ http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/HISTHTML/MANUALS/RETIC.PDF
- ↑ Prussian blue stain. URL:[http://education.vetmed.vt.edu/curriculum/VM8054/labs/Lab2/Examples/exprussb.htm. Accessed on: 5 May 2010.
- ↑ Kluver-Barrera stain. URL:http://education.vetmed.vt.edu/curriculum/VM8054/labs/Lab2/Examples/exkluvbarr.htm. Accessed on: 5 May 2010.
- ↑ URL: http://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/warthin. Accessed on: 17 August 2010.
- ↑ URL: http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/HISTHTML/STAINS/STAINS.html. Accessed on: April 6, 2009.
- ↑ http://www.dako.co.uk/index/prod_search/prod_products.htm?productareaid=41&baseprodidver=A224462007
- ↑ http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/HISTHTML/STAINS/STAIN029.html
- ↑ DB. 4 August 2010.
- ↑ URL: http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Overview/80327. Accessed on: 8 August 2010.
- ↑ Humphrey, Peter A; Dehner, Louis P; Pfeifer, John D (2008). The Washington Manual of Surgical Pathology (1st ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 455. ISBN 978-0781765275.
- ↑ URL: http://www.mondofacto.com/facts/dictionary?Dieterle%27s+stain. Accessed on: 4 August 2010.
- ↑ URL: http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Overview/80327. Accessed on: 8 August 2010.
- ↑ http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/HISTHTML/MANUALS/BIELSCH.PDF
- ↑ Lefkowitch, Jay H. (2006). Anatomic Pathology Board Review (1st ed.). Saunders. pp. 681 (Q25). ISBN 978-1416025887.
- ↑ Humphrey, Peter A; Dehner, Louis P; Pfeifer, John D (2008). The Washington Manual of Surgical Pathology (1st ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 678. ISBN 978-0781765275.
- ↑ http://www.medschool.lsuhsc.edu/pathology/pathist/SURGPATH/special%20stains/assets/mucicarmine3.jpg
- ↑ http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/HISTHTML/MANUALS/ALCIAN.PDF
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 Modified Movat's Pentachrome Stain. University Penn Medicine. URL: http://www.med.upenn.edu/mcrc/histology_core/movat.shtml. Accessed on: January 29, 2009.
- ↑ ULR: http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/HISTHTML/MANUALS/MASSONS.PDF. Accessed on: 2 November 2011.
- ↑ Perry JR, Bilbao JM, Gray T (1992). "Fatal basilar vasculopathy complicating bacterial meningitis". Stroke 23 (8): 1175–8. PMID 1636194. Free Full Text.
- ↑ URL: http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/HISTHTML/MANUALS/JONES.PDF. Accessed on: 19 May 2011.
- ↑ Tickoo SK, Amin MB, Zarbo RJ (April 1998). "Colloidal iron staining in renal epithelial neoplasms, including chromophobe renal cell carcinoma: emphasis on technique and patterns of staining". Am. J. Surg. Pathol. 22 (4): 419–24. PMID 9537468. http://meta.wkhealth.com/pt/pt-core/template-journal/lwwgateway/media/landingpage.htm?issn=0147-5185&volume=22&issue=4&spage=419.
- ↑ URL: http://www.ultrapath.org/oldsite/cases99/sep99/cotm9-2.html. Accessed on: 9 October 2011.
- ↑ URL: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fastidious?show=0&t=1319550566. Accessed on: 25 October 2011.
- ↑ ALS. On several occasions in 2009.
- ↑ Fischer EG, Moore MJ, Lager DJ (October 2006). "Fabry disease: a morphologic study of 11 cases". Mod. Pathol. 19 (10): 1295–301. doi:10.1038/modpathol.3800634. PMID 16799480. http://www.nature.com/modpathol/journal/v19/n10/abs/3800634a.html.
- ↑ Nicholas, SB.; Basgen, JM.; Sinha, S. (2011). "Using stereologic techniques for podocyte counting in the mouse: shifting the paradigm.". Am J Nephrol 33 Suppl 1: 1-7. doi:10.1159/000327564. PMID 21659728.
- ↑ URL: http://www.molecularstation.com/protocol-links/articles/Toluidine-Blue-Stain-32.html. Accessed on: 17 March 2011.
- ↑ URL: http://www.dermnetnz.org/doctors/dermatopathology/stains.html. Accessed on: 17 March 2011.
- ↑ Horobin RW, Walter KJ (1987). "Understanding Romanowsky staining. I: The Romanowsky-Giemsa effect in blood smears". Histochemistry 86 (3): 331–6. PMID 2437082. http://www.springerlink.com/content/r81x25451m841866/.
- ↑ URL: http://www.ihcworld.com/_protocols/special_stains/diff_quick_ellis.htm. Accessed on: 4 January 2010.
- ↑ URL: http://education.vetmed.vt.edu/curriculum/VM8054/labs/Lab2/Examples/exfontana.htm. Accessed on: 5 May 2010.
- ↑ URL: http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/HISTHTML/STAINS/STAINS.html. Accessed on: 5 May 2010.
- ↑ URL: http://www.bris.ac.uk/vetpath/cpl/msb.html. Accessed on: 26 November 2010.
- ↑ URL: http://www.bris.ac.uk/vetpath/cpl/msb.html. Accessed on: 26 November 2010.
- ↑ "Picro-Mallory for Fibrin – Long Version". http://stainsfile.info/StainsFile/stain/fibrin/picro-mallory-1.htm. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
- ↑ URL: http://education.vetmed.vt.edu/Curriculum/VM8054/Labs/Lab2/Examples/exvrmass.htm. Accessed on: 3 January 2011.
- ↑ URL: http://education.vetmed.vt.edu/Curriculum/VM8054/Labs/Lab2/Examples/exvvg.htm. Accessed on: 3 January 2011.
- ↑ Miyamura H, Nakanuma Y, Kono N (December 1988). "Survey of copper granules in liver biopsy specimens from various liver abnormalities other than Wilson's disease and biliary diseases". Gastroenterol. Jpn. 23 (6): 633–8. PMID 2464523.
- ↑ URL: http://www.naika.or.jp/im2/42/10/14c.aspx. Accessed on: 24 January 2011.
- ↑ http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Overview/9836. Accessed on: 24 January 2011.
- ↑ URL: http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/00313027709085239?journalCode=pat. Accessed on: 24 January 2011.
- ↑ URL: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/pathology/protocols/shikata.html. Accessed on: 24 January 2011.
External links
- Procedure manuals - med.utah.edu.
- Special stains (introduction) - med.utah.edu.
- Stains - histology-world.com.