Histology Certification Staining Methods 3

Question 1

Which stain is the gold standard for identifying amyloid deposits in tissue?

Accepted Answer

Congo red

Answer

Congo red stains amyloid salmon-pink and produces pathognomonic apple-green birefringence under polarized light.

Question 2

The Grimelius stain is used to demonstrate which cell type?

Accepted Answer

Argyrophilic neuroendocrine cells

Answer

Grimelius is an argyrophilic silver stain that highlights neuroendocrine cells by reducing silver ions in the presence of an exogenous reducing agent.

Question 3

What color does cartilage matrix appear when stained with Alcian blue at pH 2.5?

Accepted Answer

Blue

Answer

Alcian blue at pH 2.5 stains sulfated and carboxylated glycosaminoglycans in cartilage matrix blue.

Question 4

Which silver stain technique is most commonly used to demonstrate fungal elements in tissue?

Accepted Answer

Gomori methenamine silver (GMS)

Answer

Gomori methenamine silver (GMS) stain blackens fungal cell walls against a pale green background, making it the standard for fungal detection.

Question 5

In Masson's trichrome staining, what color does smooth muscle appear?

Accepted Answer

Red/pink

Answer

In Masson's trichrome, muscle fibers stain red or pink with acid fuchsin, while collagen stains blue or green depending on the variant.

Histology Certification Practice Test

Histology Certification Practice Test

Histology Certification Staining Methods 3