What Techniques are Used to Identify Infections in Histological Samples?
Several techniques are employed to identify infections in histological samples:
Special Stains: Stains like Gram stain for bacteria, Ziehl-Neelsen stain for acid-fast bacteria, and Gomori methenamine silver stain for fungi are used to highlight specific infectious agents. Immunohistochemistry: This technique uses antibodies to detect specific antigens in tissues, helping identify viral, bacterial, or fungal infections. Molecular Techniques: Methods like PCR (polymerase chain reaction) can detect the genetic material of infectious agents, offering a highly sensitive diagnostic tool.
