GMS vs PAS
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From: | Rebecca S Smith <bssvpisu@iastate.edu> |
To: | The Histonet <histonet@pathology.swmed.edu> |
Reply-To: | |
Content-Type: | text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed |
My two cents on this issue:
If you use periodic acid instead of chromic acid, what you are really doing
is the PAS stain and not the GMS. Periodic acid oxidizes to a certain
point and then STOPS. Chromic acid continues oxidizing the newly formed
groups, until all that are left are items that contained HIGH amounts of
carbohydrates in the first place, such as fungi. This reduces background
staining. If your pathologist complain about weak PAS's not identifying
all fungal elements, then they will not be happy with switching to periodic
acid. But, if they are satisfied with the possible false negatives, the
background staining and the probable weak staining, then GO FOR IT. I'm
always for getting rid of hazards that we don't NEED in the
laboratory. However, our pathologists were not happy with the switch and
we returned to offering two stains. GMS and PAS that are actually
"different" stains, rather than GMS and PAS which actually are the same
stain with one demonstrating with silver and one demonstrating with
Schiff's reagent. I guess that's enough said before I end up with my foot
in my mouth!
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