What Are Common Histological Stains and Techniques?
Various stains and techniques are used to enhance the visibility of different tissue components:
Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E): The most common stain, used to differentiate between cell nuclei (blue) and cytoplasm (pink). Immunohistochemistry (IHC): Uses antibodies to detect specific antigens in the tissue, helpful in identifying specific types of cells or proteins. Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS): Stains carbohydrates and mucopolysaccharides, useful for detecting fungal infections and certain types of tumors. Silver Stain: Used to highlight certain types of bacteria, fungi, and nervous tissue.
