ASCP Hematoxylin and Eosin Staining

Question 1

What cellular component is primarily stained by hematoxylin in an H&E stain?

Accepted Answer

Nuclei (DNA/RNA)

Answer

Cytoplasm

Answer

Collagen

Answer

Lipids

Question 2

What color does eosin stain the cytoplasm and collagen in a routine H&E preparation?

Accepted Answer

Pink/red

Answer

Blue

Answer

Purple

Answer

Green

Question 3

What is the purpose of the mordant in the hematoxylin staining process?

Accepted Answer

To link the hematoxylin dye to tissue components

Answer

To remove excess hematoxylin

Answer

To differentiate background from nuclei

Answer

To prevent fading

Question 4

What is the 'bluing' step in H&E staining intended to accomplish?

Accepted Answer

Convert soluble hematoxylin to an insoluble blue-black complex by raising pH

Answer

Increase eosin intensity

Answer

Remove excess eosin

Answer

Deparaffinize sections

Question 5

What is the purpose of the differentiation step using acid-alcohol in H&E staining?

Accepted Answer

To selectively remove excess hematoxylin from non-nuclear elements

Answer

To remove eosin background

Answer

To increase nuclear stain intensity

Answer

To deparaffinize tissue

Question 6

Before H&E staining, paraffin sections must be deparaffinized using which reagent?

Accepted Answer

Xylene

Answer

Ethanol

Answer

Acetone

Answer

Water