Demonstrates calcium. Impregnation is done with silver nitrate, the sunlight is the reducer, the removal of unreduced silver is done with sodium thiosulfate, and the counterstain used is nuclear fast red. Calcium salts will stain black and the background stains red. Useful in identifying abnormal deposits of calcium associated with necrotic tissue areas.
(Schmorl) Indicates the presence of reducing substances present in tissue such as melanin, argentaffin granules, and formalin pigment. The counterstain is metanil yellow. Reducing substances stain blue-green, goblet cells & mucin stain rose and the background is stained yellow-green. Useful in the diagnosis of malignant melanomas, Addison’s disease, metabolism disturbances and benign nevus tumors.
(Alizarin Red) Demonstrates calcium. Calcium deposits stain orange red. Useful in cases of TB, atherosclerosis, kidney calcinosis, sarcoidosis, hyperparathyroidism and kidney stones.
(Turnbull Blue) Detects ferrous iron in tissues. The counterstain is nuclear fast red and ferric cyanide is the staining solution. Results are that the ferrous iron stains blue and the background stains pink-red. Helps identify liver fibrosis, toxins, cirrhosis, heart failure, and diabetes mellitus.
(Prussian Blue) Detects ferrous iron in tissues. Nuclei stains bright red, hemosiderins stains blue, and the background stains pink. Demonstrate pathological conditions involving hemosiderin,hemorrhage, hemolytic anemia, metabolic iron disturbances. Nuclear fast red is used as a counterstain.
(Fontana Masson) Demonstrates argentaffin substances such as melanin, argentaffin granules of carcinoid tumors, and some neurosecretory granules. Melanin stains black, argentaffin granules stain black, and the nuclei stain pink. The sensitizer is silver nitrate, impregnation is done with diamine silver solution, the toner is gold chloride and the removal of unreduced silver is done with sodium thiosulfate. Nuclear fast red is the counterstain. Useful in diagnosing malignant melanomas, Addison’s disease, metabolism disturbances and benign nevus tumors.
