FAO Sqad

[NoMercy]

Nan's biopsy results were due back today. Today they announced that the tissue has to be resent off for staining. We are all furious and devastated, not least Nan.

What is staining exactly?

Btw, we have to wait another week for the results.

[Sqad]

I am not a pathologist, but routine staining doesn't always show up the cells that you are looking for and special stains have to be applied.....e.g silver stains for nerve tissue.

Annoying wait I appreciate but alternate stains are often required.

[Sqad]

\\\\What is staining exactly? \\\

Ooops! sorry, I haven't answered your question.

Without staining, the tissue looked at underneath the microscope would be difficult to identify and staining is used to differentiate tissues.
Staining..........tissue dipped in stain for a period of time.

[slaney]

Doubtless ordinary staining has been done on the tissue sample and it has been looked at under the microscope, but,as Sqad says, it's not always possible to make a diagnosis on these basic stains.
In recent years there has been a proliferation of special cell marker tests that help in the precise diagnosis of tumours. Sometimes the samples have to be sent away to a larger centre or reference laboratory for this, hence the delay.

[NoMercy]

Thank you both