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Guilherme Mazui

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What is the Difference Between H&E and PAS Stain?

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The main difference between H&E and PAS stains lies in their components, staining properties, and applications in histopathology.

H&E (Hematoxylin and Eosin) stain is the most commonly used stain in routine pathology. It consists of two dyes: hematoxylin, a basic dye that stains acidic structures purplish-blue, and eosin, an acidic dye that stains basic structures pink or red. H&E stain is primarily used to differentiate tissue structures, identify cell nuclei, cytoplasm, and extracellular matrix.

PAS (Periodic Acid-Schiff) stain, on the other hand, consists of periodic acid and Schiff reagent. It is used to stain various structures, including glycogen, mucin, mucoprotein, glycoprotein, and fungi. PAS stain is particularly useful for outlining tissue structures, such as basement membranes, capsules, and blood vessels. However, it has a high background staining and variable specificity depending on interpretation.

In summary, H&E stain is more commonly used for general histopathology purposes, while PAS stain is used to highlight specific structures and components in tissue samples.

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  • What is the Difference Between H&E and PAS Stain?
  • Comparative Table: H&E vs PAS Stain

    • Comparative Table: H&E vs PAS Stain

    Here is a table comparing the differences between H&E and PAS stains:

    Feature H&E Stain PAS Stain
    Composition Hematoxylin and Eosin Periodic Acid and Schiff Reagent
    Staining Pattern Hematoxylin stains cell nuclei and gives a purplish-blue color, while Eosin stains the cytoplasm and extracellular matrix in pink color PAS stain is used to detect polysaccharides and muco-substances. The periodic acid oxidizes sugars, and the Schiff reagent reacts with the resulting aldehydes to give a purplish-magenta color
    Primary Purpose Differentiating tissue structures in histopathology Identifying polysaccharides and muco-substances in histopathology
    Other Uses H&E is the gold standard for basement membrane staining in many cases, but some structures may not stain well without additional stains like PAS PAS can stain degenerated fungi that may not be visible on H&E stain

    In summary, H&E stain is primarily used for differentiating tissue structures, while PAS stain is used for identifying polysaccharides and muco-substances. The choice of stain depends on the specific histopathological application and the structures that need to be visualized.

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    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.