Chapter 1 | Introduction to Special Stains - Dako

Introduction to Special Stains Introduction to Special Stains
Conclusion
special stains belong to an assorted family of stains for microscopic
visualization and general identification of cells, tissues and micro-
organisms. special stains remain an important tool for many
pathologists and technologists providing a powerful complement
to immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, in situ hybridization and
other diagnostic technologies that define a patient’s medical profile.
With the medical community demanding greater standardization and
quality control, special stain protocols have become increasingly
automated resulting in higher levels of productivity and flexibility.
automation is no substitute for a solid understanding of the principles
and practices of a quality staining. We anticipate that this technology
will continue to evolve in the foreseeable future and expect it to form
an integral part of pathologic diagnosis. in a nutshell, this introduction
was intended to provide guidance to help interested readers acquire
proficiency in selecting and performing special stains faster than they
might have otherwise done.
Appendix
Biological Stain Commission
the Us-based Biological stain commission was an indirect
consequence of World War i. during the Great War there was a
blockade of German products, including dyes. By 1920, the supply of
pre-war dyes was almost exhausted, foreign supplies were erratic, and
the domestic dyes were still often unsatisfactory. as a consequence,
several concerned groups and individuals came together, which
resulted in two key conferences in 1921 on the standardization of
stains. From this activity, the commission on the standardization of
Biological stains originated. By 1923, the commission already had
a constitution that is recognizably the forerunner of the aims of the
present commission. in parallel with this, co-founder dr. Harold J.
conn, while chairman of the commission, published the first edition
of Biological stains in 1925. this book has become a standard
source of reference in technical and research histopathological
and biological laboratories using dyes. the book has been revised
regularly with a 10th edition (2002) as the most recent version. in
1944, the commission on the standardization of Biological stains
became the Biological stain commission.
the objectives of the Biological stain commission are: 1) to ensure
an uninterrupted supply of dyes used in biological and medical
applications, 2) to promote cooperation and dialogue among
manufacturers, vendors and users of dyes for histochemical
applications, 3) to ensure the quality of dyes through independent
testing according to appropriately rigorous chemical and performance
criteria, 4) to educate users of biological stains about sources of
reliable dyes and how they might best be used, and 5) to publish
information concerning new or improved uses for biological dyes and
related histochemical techniques.
these objectives are met by way of: 1) analyzing dye content and
composition of samples supplied voluntarily by dye manufacturers
or vendors, 2) testing the performance of dye samples in rigorous,
standardized procedures known to be discerning tests of the staining
quality of the dye, 3) issuing certification labels to be attached to the
containers used by companies marketing accepted dyes to assure
consumers that these dyes have met the performance criteria of the
Biological stain commission, 4) conducting and supporting research
on biological dyes and histochemical techniques dependent on dyes,
5) publishing books concerning biological dyes and histochemical
techniques, and publishing Biotechnic & Histochemistry, a bimonthly
journal of microtechnique and histochemistry, and 6) maintaining
an active dialogue among scientists, manufacturers and vendors
concerned with biological stains.
interested readers can learn much more about the Biological stain
commission at its Web site: http://www.biologicalstaincommission.org/.
Anatomic Pathology Checklist by College of
American Pathologists
several thousand Us anatomic pathology laboratories are inspected
by the college of american pathologists for accreditation purposes
required by the clinical laboratory improvement amendments of
1988 (clia ’88). they can expect to be asked these two questions
about special stains (see text in bold, page 27):
26 | special stains and H & e special stains and H & e | 27