Counterstain

Counterstain
Gram-positive anthrax bacteria with counterstained white blood cells

A counterstain is a stain with color contrasting to the principal stain, making the stained structure more easily visible.

An example is the malachite green counterstain to the fuchsine stain in the Gimenez staining technique.

Another example is eosin counterstain to haematoxylin in the H&E stain.

Also in Gram staining, crystal violet stains only Gram-positive bacteria, and safranin counterstain is applied which stains all cells, even allowing the identification of Gram-negative bacteria as well. An alternative method uses dilute carbofluozide.


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  • counterstain — n. /kown teuhr stayn /; v. /kown teuhr stayn /, Histol. n. 1. a second stain of a different color applied to a microscopic specimen and used to color and contrast those parts not retaining the first stain. v.t. 2. to treat (a microscopic… …   Universalium

  • counterstain — coun•ter•stain [[t]ˈkaʊn tərˌsteɪn[/t]] n. 1) lab a second stain applied to a microscopic specimen for contrast 2) lab to treat (a microscopic specimen) with a counterstain 3) lab to become counterstained; take a counterstain • Etymology: 1890–95 …   From formal English to slang

  • counterstain — noun /ˈkaʊntəsteɪn/ (say kowntuhstayn) 1. a stain applied to a microscopic specimen to distinguish even further parts not retaining a previous stain. –verb (t) /kaʊntəˈsteɪn/ (say kowntuh stayn) 2. to treat (a specimen) with a counterstain. –verb …  

  • counterstain — transitive verb Date: 1895 to stain (as a microscopy specimen) so as to color parts (as the cytoplasm of cells) not colored by another stain (as a nuclear stain) • counterstain noun …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • counterstain — Rather nonspecific stain used in conjunction with another histochemical reagent of greater specificity to provide contrast and reveal more of the general structure of the tissue. Light Green is used as a counterstain in the Mallory procedure, for …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • counterstain — 1. noun A stain contrasting with the principal stain in color, thus making the stained structure easier to see 2. verb To stain with a counterstain …   Wiktionary

  • counterstain — A second stain of different color, having affinity for tissues, cells, or parts of cells other than those taking the primary stain, used to render more distinct the parts taking the first stain. * * * coun·ter·stain .stān n a stain used to color… …   Medical dictionary

  • counterstain-enhanced fluorescence banding — counterstain enhanced fluorescence banding. = sequential counterstain enhanced fluorescence banding (см.). (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • counterstain — n. second stain applied to a previous stain (on a microscopic specimen) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • counterstain — coun·ter·stain …   English syllables

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