Painting Cells: A Simple Guide to Special Stains in Microscopy

Special stains refer to empirical and histochemical staining technique that significantly contributed to the development histology in the late 19th century. Special stains refers staining technique other than routine hematoxylin and eosin. Thousands of years ago, diagnosing and treating a patient's condition was much difficult. Staining had made easier to histologist and pathologist to diagnose the pathology but still many times pathologist cannot able to make out which pathology is it as most of them look alike, as they take same stains. Hence, it becomes necessary to differentiate them to make accurate diagnosis. These special stains stain the tissue in special manner and help the examiner to identify which type of tissue. Special stains remain important tools for many pathologists, providing a powerful complement to immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, in situ hybridization and other diagnostic technologies that ultimately define a patient's medical profile. Many special stains helps in detecting and identifying pathogens, while others play an important role in diagnosing and monitoring cancer.