Stain
Stain (Medicine)
Stain (pronounced: /steɪn/) is a term used in medicine and biology to refer to the process of adding color to or changing the color of a biological tissue, usually to enhance the contrast of the microscopic image. Stains and dyes are frequently used in histology (the study of tissue under the microscope) and in the medical microbiology laboratory.
Etymology
The term "stain" comes from the Old English word "stænen" which means to discolor or give color to something.
Types of Stains
There are several types of stains used in medicine and biology, including:
- Hematoxylin and eosin stain (H&E stain), which is the most commonly used stain in medical diagnosis.
- Gram stain, used to classify bacteria into two large groups (Gram-positive and Gram-negative).
- Ziehl-Neelsen stain, used to identify acid-fast bacteria, particularly Mycobacteria.
- Giemsa stain, used for the staining of blood films in malaria.
Related Terms
- Counterstain: A stain with color contrasting to the principal stain, making the stained structure easily visible.
- Differential stain: A stain that differentiates between types of organisms or structures.
- Negative stain: A stain that colors the background but leaves the specimen unstained.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Stain
- Wikipedia's article - Stain
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