Congo red is a special stain pathologists use to detect amyloid, an abnormal protein that can build up in tissues and organs. Amyloid can damage the heart, kidneys, nerves, and other organs. The Congo red stain is the standard test for confirming amyloid in a tissue sample. Congo red is a test, not a diagnosis. …
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Melanin is the natural pigment that gives skin, hair, and eyes their color. Cells called melanocytes make it, and they live in the bottom layer of the epidermis. Melanin also protects the skin by absorbing ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun. Melanin is a normal part of the skin, not a diagnosis. IPathology reports often …
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An iron stain is a laboratory test that shows where iron is stored in a tissue sample. It colors iron bright blue so a pathologist can see it under the microscope. The most common iron stain is called Prussian blue, also known as the Perls stain. An iron stain is a special stain, not a …
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Periodic acid Schiff plus diastase or PAS-D is a special stain with various uses by pathologists. It is typically used in combination with the routine hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained slide. Common uses for PAS-D include: Intracellular mucin: PAS-D can help a pathologist differentiate between glycogen and mucin. When a PAS-D-stained slide is examined under …
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Periodic acid Schiff (also known as PAS) is a special stain test performed by pathologists to look for two types of chemicals in a tissue sample: a type of sugar called glycogen, and a type of protein called mucin. Pathologists often perform a PAS stain when they are trying to determine if the cells in …
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Grocott (also known as GMS) is a special stain test performed by pathologists to look for fungal microorganisms in a tissue sample. The most commonly identified fungal microorganisms are Candida and Pneumocystis. GMS may also be used to look for some types of bacteria, such as Actinomyces and Nocardia. When a GMS-stained slide is examined …
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A special stain is a specialized test pathologists use to examine tissue samples more closely. While the most common stain used by pathologists is called hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), sometimes additional details are needed that this standard stain cannot reveal. Special stains involve applying specific coloured dyes to tissue samples, highlighting particular cells, microorganisms, or …
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