Histological Stains in the Past, Present, and Future

• Published in: Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) Vol. 13; no. 10; p. e18486
• Main Authors: Javaeed, Arslaan, Qamar, Shanza, Ali, Sundus, Mustafa, Mir Ahmad Talha, Nusrat, Areeba, Ghauri, Sanniya Khan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Palo Alto Cureus Inc 04.10.2021; Cureus
• Subjects: Alcohol; Bacteria; Dyes; Hematology; Histology; Histopathology; Microscopes; Microscopy; Pathology; Stains & staining
• ISSN: 2168-8184; 2168-8184
• DOI: 10.7759/cureus.18486

Certain contemporary histology stains and methods are not the same as those used in the past. This progression has delved into the requirement for more precise, less complex, and efficient staining procedures. The objective of this study is to assess historical and contemporary stains and procedures, as well as the challenges surrounding their improvement. Carmine, hematoxylin, silver nitrate, Giemsa, trichome stain, Gram stain, and mauveine were among the first histological stains discovered in nature. Aside from their utility in the study of tissues at the time, they also laid the groundwork for the development of commercial dyes that are still in use today. Hematoxylin and eosin, Ziehl-Nielsen (ZN) stain, periodic acid-Schiff stain, and Grocott-Gomori methenamine silver stain are some of the most recently developed histological stains. The future of histological stains and processes appears to be influenced by technological advancements and the demand for cost-effective diagnostic approaches in the healthcare system. Thus, currently used histological stains appear to be economical, quick, and reliable tools for interpreting, archiving, and delivering essential diagnoses that could not be achieved by any other means.