Some Common Special Stains

The images below illustrate some of the common special stains and their applications.

Figure 8: Masson's Trichrome (skin). This stain is intended for use in histological
observation of collagenous connective tissue fibers in tissue specimens. It is used to assist
in differentiating collagen and smooth muscle in tumors and assists in the detection of
diseases or changes in connective/muscle tissue.

Figure 9: Modified GMS Silver Stain (Left: Pneumocystis, lung) (Right: Aspergillus infection,
lung). The Modified GMS Silver stain is intended for use in histological observation of fungi,
basement membrane and some opportunistic organisms such as pneumocystis carinii in
tissue specimens.

Figure 10: Periodic Acid Schiff (kidney). PAS staining is mainly used for staining structures
containing a high proportion of carbohydrates such as glycogen,glycoproteins,
proteoglycans typically found in connective tissues, mucus and basement membranes.
Often used to stain kidney biopsies, liver biopsies, certain glycogen storage diseases in
striated muscles and suspected fungal infections.

Figure 11: Perls Prussian Blue Iron (liver). This stain is used to detect and identify ferric
(Fe3+) iron in tissue preparations, blood smears,or bone marrow smears. Minute amounts of
ferric iron (haemosiderin) are commonly found in bone marrow and in the spleen. Abnormal
amounts of iron can indicate hemochromatosis and hemosiderosis.

Figure 12: Ziehl Neelsen (Acid Fast Bacillus, lung). This stain is used to detect and identify
acid fast bacilli in tissue. Bacilli are rod-shaped bacterial organisms. A primary function of
this stain is to identify tuberculosis in lung tissue.

Figure 13: Alcian Blue (intestine). Alcian Blue is normally prepared at pH 2.5 and is used to
identify acid mucopolysaccharides and acidic mucins. Excessive amounts of non-sulfated
acidic mucosubstances are seen in mesotheliomas, certain amounts occur normally in blood
vessel walls but increase in early lesions of atherosclerosis.

Figure 14: Alcian Blue and PAS (intestine). A stain that combines the properties of both
Alcian Blue and Periodic Acid Schiff staining.

Figure 15: Gomori Trichrome (blue) (submucosa). Trichrome stains are used to stain and
identify muscle fibers, collagen and nuclei. They can be used to contrast skeletal, cardiac or
smooth muscle. The Gomori Trichrome is a simplification of the more elaborate Masson
trichrome stain and combine the plasma stain (chromotrope 2R) and connective tissue stain
to provide a brilliant contrasting picture.

Figure 16: Gomori Trichrome (green) (submucosa). Trichrome stains are used to stain and
identify muscle fibers, collagen and nuclei. They can be used to contrast skeletal ,cardiac
or smooth muscle. The Gomori Trichrome is a simplification of the more elaborate Masson
stain and combines the plasma stain (chromotrope 2R) with the connective tissue stain to
provide a brilliant contrasting picture.