Hematoxylin and Eosin Staining Flashcards
6 cards from real ASCP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Hematoxylin and Eosin Staining flashcards as text
In a well-stained H&E section, red blood cells (RBCs) should appear what color?
Answer: Bright red/orange
RBCs lack nuclei and stain brightly eosinophilic (bright red to orange) due to their hemoglobin content.
What is the purpose of rehydration after deparaffinization before H&E staining?
Answer: To remove residual xylene and prepare tissue for aqueous dyes
After xylene deparaffinization, tissue must be rehydrated through descending grades of alcohol to prepare it for aqueous hematoxylin and eosin solutions.
What does basophilic staining indicate in H&E histology?
Answer: Affinity for hematoxylin (basic dye)
Basophilic structures have a negative charge that attracts the basic dye hematoxylin, staining them blue-purple.
What color does mucin typically stain in a routine H&E preparation?
Answer: Pale blue or clear
Mucin stains pale blue or is nearly clear in routine H&E, which is why special stains like PAS or Alcian blue are used to highlight it.
What is the function of Scott's tap water (or ammonia water) in the H&E staining process?
Answer: Bluing agent to convert hematoxylin complex to blue
Scott's tap water (magnesium sulfate and sodium bicarbonate) raises the pH, converting the brownish-red hematoxylin complex to its characteristic blue color.
Which of the following is a quality control indicator for an H&E stained section?
Answer: Crisp blue nuclei with pink cytoplasm and no background staining
A well-stained H&E section shows sharp blue-purple nuclei, pink cytoplasm, and clean background without precipitate or uneven staining.