Tissue Processing 12.jpg
Tissue sections on slides are stained using hematoxylin and eosin on an automated stainer. This is the routine "H&E" stain, which is used on almost all specimens. Hematoxylin, which is blue or purple, stains mostly nuclei, while the pink to orange eosin stains cytoplasm, nucleoli, and extracellular substances like collagen.
After staining, the processor takes the slides through a dehydrating solvent, usually alcohol or acetone, and then into a "clearing agent," either xylene or a citrus-smelling substance called Americlear.
Sometimes it is necessary to supplement the H&E with "special stains" or "immunostains."
Tissue Processing 12.jpg
Tissue sections on slides are stained using hematoxylin and eosin on an automated stainer. This is the routine "H&E" stain, which is used on almost all specimens. Hematoxylin, which is blue or purple, stains mostly nuclei, while the pink to orange eosin stains cytoplasm, nucleoli, and extracellular substances like collagen.
After staining, the processor takes the slides through a dehydrating solvent, usually alcohol or acetone, and then into a "clearing agent," either xylene or a citrus-smelling substance called Americlear.
Sometimes it is necessary to supplement the H&E with "special stains" or "immunostains."