[Histonet] Poor Eosin staining after prolonged fixation

[Keeping, Janet]

Has anyone experienced poor eosin counterstaining using tissues which
have had very prolonged fixation in neutral buffered formalin? The
tissues I have for students have been fixed for a very long time. (not
generally a problem in the clinical site). Although the pH of the stain
is between 4.6-5.0, the slides are well washed following bluing, time in
70% alcohol for differentiation is minimal  and eosin staining times
have been increased the counterstaining is still poor. I am guessing
that the tissue groups that bind with eosin are not accessible due to
continued cross linking. Any ideas or suggestions? 

 

Janet Keeping A.R.T., B. Voc. Ed

Instructor

Medical Laboratory Sciences

 

1 Prince Philip drive

P.O. Box 1693, St. John's 

NL, Canada A1C 5P7

709 758 7657 tel

709 758 7635 fax

E-mail; janet.keeping <@t> cna.nl.ca