Hi all,
I have a pathologist that is looking for a special stain that "highlights blood." Initially she had wanted to use benzidine as referenced in the article below but our safety office let me know that we would need some pretty hefty air scrubbers and respirators to use it safely. Does anyone have a protocol that might give the same results? Thank you, Erin Martin Erin Martin, Histology Supervisor UCSF Dermatopathology Service 415-353-7248 Am J Dermatopathol. 1995 Aug;17(4):362-7. Benzidine stain for the histochemical detection of hemoglobin in splinter hemorrhage (subungual hematoma) and black heel. Hafner J(1), Haenseler E, Ossent P, Burg G, Panizzon RG. Author information: (1)Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Zurich, Switzerland. Minor nail trauma may cause bluish discoloration of the nail, while tangential skin trauma on the heel can result in a so-called black heel. To rule out melanoma in such clinical situations, a biopsy is needed to reveal homogeneous eosinophilic masses deposited under the nail plate or within it (transepidermal elimination). Most dermatopathologists attempt to demonstrate the presence of hemoglobin in these eosinophilic masses with Prussian blue stain, which typically remains negative. In our experience, these traumatically induced blood deposits are always situated in avascular spaces, devoid of degrading phagocytes. Consequently, a histochemical stain for these deposits should be directed specifically toward hemoglobin, not hemosiderin. In the dermatopathologic literature, the various techniques to detect hemoglobin deposits in tissue sections are not well-known. We would like to emphasize benzidine stain, a highly selective and efficient method to demonstrate the presence of hemoglobin deposits in histologic sections. To date, benzidine stain has not been utilized to characterize splinter hemorrhage (subungual hematoma). Of concern, the use of benzidine in histopathology laboratories is restricted because this agent is a known carcinogen, while the non-mutagenic derivative, 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine, does not stain histologic sections. Patent blue V, a completely different and less specific agent, stains hemoglobin an intense blue-green. Confidentiality Notice The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or priviledged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you receive this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer. _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
