Eastwood and Cole Congo Red
for Amyloid
Materials
Tissue Sample
5µ paraffin sections of neutral buffered formalin fixed tissue are suitable.
Protocol
- Bring sections to water via xylene and ethanol.
- Stain nuclei with hemalum and blue.
- Place in congo red solution for 10 – 20 minutes.
- Rinse off the staining solution with 70% ethanol until clear.
- Dehydrate with ethanol.
- Clear with xylene and mount with a resinous medium.
Expected Results
- Amyloid – Orange to red
- Eosinophils and elastic – Orange to red
- Nuclei – Blue
Notes
- Amyloid displays apple green birefringence when viewed with crossed polarisers, one above and one below the section.
Safety Note
Prior to handling any chemical, consult the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for proper handling and safety precautions.
References
- Bancroft, J.D. and Stevens A. (1982)
Theory and practice of histological techniques Ed. 2
Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh & London, UK.