Several techniques are employed in microbial testing within histology:
1. Histochemical Staining: Special stains such as the Gram stain, Acid-Fast Bacilli (AFB) stain, and Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) stain are used to visualize microorganisms in tissue sections. 2. Immunohistochemistry (IHC): This technique uses antibodies to detect specific microbial antigens in tissue samples. 3. Molecular Techniques: Techniques like Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and in situ hybridization allow the detection of microbial DNA or RNA within tissues. 4. Culture Methods: Although less common in histology, some tissues may be cultured to grow and identify microorganisms.
