Fuchsin Protocol

To visualize cells and tissues under a microscope, researchers use specialized dyes to stain the tissue or cell samples. The specialized dyes are selected for different tissues or cell types. Fuchsin is a dye that stains collagen, smooth muscle or mitochondria, the energy producing components of the cell.

Staining Bacteria

• The bacterial stain, Ziehl-Neelsen stain, stains acid-fast bacteria such as mycobacteria. The stain includes carbol fuchsin, a mixture of phenol and fuchsin, acid alcohol and methylene blue. The bacteria will stain red.

Staining Collagen

• The mixture of picric acid and acid fuchsin, or the Van Gieson's stain, is useful to examine collagen. The collagen will stain a pink color, while the nucleus stains brown and tissue such as muscle, red blood cells and fibrin will stain yellow.

General Purpose Stain

• The combination of basic fuchsin and methylene blue is known as Lee's stain, and is a general purpose stain. The cell's nuclei will stain blue, cartilage will be a blue/purple and the cytoplasm and mitochondria will stain red.

Caution

• Take care while using all stains and dyes. Wear correct protective equipment such as gloves and goggle. Avoid chemicals such as phenol and picric acid where possible and use alternatives.