Special Stain Kits

The Acid Fast Bacteria (AFB) Stain Kit is intended for use in the histological visualization of Acid Fast Bacteria and Tubercle Bacilli.  This kit is a rapid 15-minute procedure.  The lipoid capsule of the acid-fast organism takes up carbol fuchsin and resists decolorization.

Acid Fast Organisms:   Bright Red
Background:                Light Green

Spec Sheet

The Alcian Blue (pH 1.0) Stain Kit is intended for use in the histological visualization of strongly sulfated mucosubstances. 

Strongly Sulfated Mucosubstances:  Blue
Nuclei:                          Red
Background:                 Pink
Spec Sheet

Application:     For demonstration of the acid mucopolysaccharides.

Results:           Acid mucins are colored blue with nuclei stained red.

Control:           Intestine.

Contents:        Alcian Blue Solution (pH 2.5), 250ml
                       Acetic Acid Solution, 500ml
                       Safranin O Solution, 250 ml

Spec Sheet

The Amyloid Stain Kit (Congo Red) is intended for use in the histological visualization of amyloid in tissue sections.  Examination under a polarizing microscope results in green birefringence of amyloid.

Amyloid:         Red to Pink
Erythrocytes:  Light Orange
Eosinophil Granules:   Orange to Red
Nuclei:           Blue

The Elastic Stain Kit is intended for use in histological demonstration of elastin in tissue sections.  Demonstration of elastic tissue is useful in cases of emphysema (atrophy of elastic tissue), arteriosclerosis (thinning and loss of elastic fibers) and various other vascular diseases.

Elastic fibers:     Black to Blue/Black
Nuclei:               Blue to Black
Collagen:           Red
Muscle & Other: Yellow

Spec Sheet

The Iron Stain Kit is intended for use in the detection of ferric iron in tissues, blood smears, or bone marrow smears.  Ferric iron is normally found in small amounts in bone marrow and the spleen.  Abnormally large deposits may be seen in hemochromatosis and hemosiderosis.  This product is based on the Prussian Blue reaction in which ionic iron reacts with acid ferrocyanide producing a blue color.

Tissue Sections:

Iron:                 Bright Blue
Nuclei:             Red
Background:    Pink
Spec Sheet

Mucicarmine Stain Kit (Modified Southgate’s) is intended for use in the histological visualization of acid mucopolysacharides in tissue sections.  This product is useful in distinguishing mucin negative undifferentiated squamous cell lesions from mucin positive adenocarcinomas.  In addition, this product will stain the mucopolysaccharide capsule of Cryptococcus neoformans.

Mucin:        Pink/Red
Capsule of Cryptococcus:   Red
Nuclei:       Black/Blue
Other tissue components:   Yellow

The Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) Stain Kit is intended for use in histological demonstration of lymphocytes and mucopolysaccharides.  The staining pattern of the lymphocytes are helpful in making therapeutic decisions in established cases of lymphocytic leukemia.  The PAS reaction in tissue sections is useful for the demonstration of mucopolysaccharides.  PAS staining may also be used for the demonstration of fungal organisms in tissue sections.

PAS Positive Material:   Magenta
Nuclei:                          Black/Blue
Spec Sheet

The Trichrome Stain Kit (Modified Gomori’s) is intended for use in the histological visualization of collagenous connective tissue fibers in tissue sections.

Collagen:           Blue
Muscle Fibers:   Red
Nuclei:              Black/Blue

The Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) for Fungus Stain Kit is intended for use in histological demonstration of fungal organisms in tissue sections.  The PAS reaction is also useful in the demonstration of lymphocytes and mucopolysaccharides.  The staining patterns of the lymphocytes are helpful in making therapeutic decisions in established cases of lymphocytic leukemia.

Fungal Organisms:        Magenta
PAS Positive Material:  Magenta
Nuclei:                          Black/Blue
Spec Sheet