Pawlina_IBC.indd 1 Most Commonly Used Stains and Their Characteristics Stain Commonly Used for Typical cell Nucleus Cytoplasm Red Blood Cells Collagen Fibers Specifically Stains 9/26/14 8:39 PM Hematoxylin General staining with eosin Blue — — — Nucleic acids, blue rER (ergastoplasm), blue Eosin General staining with hematoxylin — Pink Orange/red Pink Elastic fibers, pink Reticualr fibers, pink Toluidine Blue (metachromatic stain) General staining Blue Blue Blue Blue Mast cell granules, purple Glycogen, purple Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain Basement membrane, localizing carbohydrates Blue — — Pink Glycogen and other carbohydrates, magenta Gomori’s trichrome stain Connective and muscle tissue Gray/blue Red Red Green Muscle fibers, red Masson’s trichrome stain Connective tissue Black Red/pink Red Blue/green Cartilage, blue/green Muscle fibers, red Mallory’s trichrome stain Connective tissue Red Pale red Orange Deep blue Keratine, orange Cartilage, blue Bone matrix, deep blue Muscle fibers, red Weigert’s elastic stain Elastic fibers Blue/black — — — Elastic fiber, blue/black Heidenhains’ azan trichrome stain (azocarmine ⫹ aniline blue) Distinguishing cells from extracellular matrix Red/purple Pink Red Blue Muscle fibers, red Cartilage and bone matrix, deep blue Silver stain Reticular fibers Nerve fibers — — — — Reticular fibers, brown/black Nerve fibers, brown/black Wright’s stain Blood cells Bluish/purple Bluish/ gray Red/pink — Neutrophil granules, purple/pink Eosinophil granules, bright red/orange Basophil granules, deep purple/violet Platelet granules, red/purple Orcein stain Elastic fibers Deep blue — Bright red Pink Elastic fibers, dark brown Mast cell granules, purple Smooth muscle, light blue Photomicrograph Examples
