MEDICAL AND BIOLOGICAL STAINING TECHNIQUES 



2. Stain in Ehrlich haematoxylin for ten to thirty minutes. 



3. Rinse in water. 



4. Blue in tap water or 1% lithium carbonate solution. 



5. Stain for three to five minutes in Van Gieson stain. 



6. Rinse for one or two seconds in water. 



7. Drain and draw off excess water by applying a piece of filter 

 paper to the edges of the section. 



8. Dehydrate with absolute alcohol only. 



9. Clear in xylol and mount in D.P.X., or Cristalite or Clear- 

 mount. 



Note: 



(a) It is essential, at stage 2, to overstain with haematoxylin as 

 this stain is differentiated by the picric acid of the Van Gieson 

 stain. 



(b) Preparations mounted in Canada balsam fade, but fading 

 can be obviated by use of one of the recommended mountants. 



HAEMATOXYLIN (Heidenhain) - VAN GIESON STAIN 



A selective stain for collagen and connective tissue, 

 superior to Haematoxylin (Ehrlich) - Van Gieson 



Solutions required: 



A. Haematoxylin (Heidenhain) A. 



B. Haematoxylin (Heidenhain) B. 



C. Van Gieson stain. 



Technique: 



1. Fix pieces of tissue in Bouin, Carnoy, Susa or 10% formalin. 



2. Fix sections to slides; dewax and take down to water in the 

 usual way, after removing mercurial precipitate if Susa has been 

 used as the fixative. 



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