Histology
Common laboratory stains
Columns: Stain | Common use | Nucleus | Cytoplasm | Red blood cell (RBC) | Collagen fibers | Specifically stains
Haematoxylin | General staining when paired with eosin (i.e. H&E) | Orange, Cyan Blue or Green | Blue/Brown/Black | N/A | N/A | Nucleic acids—blue ER (endoplasmic reticulum)—blue | Toluidine blue | General staining | Blue | Blue | Blue | Blue | Mast cells granules—purple | Masson's trichrome stain | Connective tissue | Black | Red/pink | Red | Blue/green | Cartilage—blue/green Muscle fibers—red | Weigert's elastic stain | Elastic fibers | Blue/black | N/A | N/A | N/A | Elastic fibers—blue/black | Heidenhain's AZAN trichrome stain | Distinguishing cells from extracellular components | Red/purple | Pink | Red | Blue | Muscle fibers—red Cartilage—blue Bone matrix—blue