Staining
Staining
Staining (/ˈsteɪnɪŋ/) is a technique used in microscopy to enhance contrast in the microscopic image. Stains and dyes are frequently used in biology and medicine to highlight structures in biological tissues for viewing, often with the aid of different microscopes.
Etymology
The term "stain" is derived from the Old English word "stænen" which means to color or dye. The term was later adopted in the field of microbiology to describe the process of coloring cells or tissues for better visibility under a microscope.
Types of Staining
There are several types of staining techniques used in microscopy, each with their own specific uses and limitations. Some of these include:
- Gram Staining: Named after its developer, Hans Christian Gram, this is a method of staining bacterial cells to differentiate between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
- Hematoxylin and Eosin Staining (H&E Staining): This is the most commonly used stain in medical diagnosis. Hematoxylin stains cell nuclei blue, while eosin stains the cytoplasm and extracellular matrix pink.
- Ziehl-Neelsen Staining: This staining technique is used to identify acid-fast bacteria, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- Immunohistochemistry: This technique uses antibodies to detect specific antigens in the tissues.
Related Terms
- Dye: A substance used to add color to materials.
- Microscopy: The technical field of using microscopes to view objects and areas of objects that cannot be seen with the naked eye.
- Histology: The study of the microscopic structure of tissues.
- Cytology: The study of cells.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Staining
- Wikipedia's article - Staining
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