Alum Hematoxylin and Eosin Stain, Comparison between Bluing in Running Tap water and Ammonia Solution

Abstract

Background:  Hematoxylin together with eosin (H&E) stain has been the most universal and traditional staining method. The accurate nuclear reaction is essential for tissue evaluation.

Objective: is to compare between bluing agent of hematoxylin in running tab water at different pH values (6.1, 6.7, and 7.7) against ammonia solution as the standard pH [8.9].

Materials and methods: The study included 72 formalin fixed different tissues stained with Mayer's hematoxylin and treated with tap water at different pH values.

Results: the study showed that the nuclear reaction that yielded excellent results was 70%. When compared the nuclear results, with respect to the pH value, there was no difference between the standard and pH 6.1, yet the pH 6.7 and red sea water of pH7.7 gave a minor reaction quality.  No significant difference was observed between the quality of nuclear and cytoplasmic reaction; (68%) of cytoplasm gave excellent results.

Conclusion: As a conclusion all sections, to some extent, gave acceptable results of hematoxylin bluing reaction. The variation in drinking water has no significant variable result of nuclear hematoxylin reaction.