What Techniques are Used for Pathogen Detection in Histology?
Several techniques are employed in histology for pathogen detection:
Histochemical Staining: Special stains like Gram stain, Ziehl-Neelsen stain, and Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) stain are used to highlight different types of pathogens. Immunohistochemistry (IHC): This technique uses antibodies to detect specific antigens in tissues, allowing for the identification of pathogens like viruses and bacteria. In Situ Hybridization (ISH): ISH uses labeled DNA or RNA probes to detect specific nucleic acid sequences of pathogens within tissue sections. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR): PCR amplifies pathogen DNA or RNA from tissue samples, making it easier to identify even small amounts of pathogens.
