Aniline Blue Stain, Aqueous
![]()
(use: Masson or McLetchie Trichrome Stain.)
Tech Memo 1: Trichrome Stain, Masson, Aniline Blue
SOLUTION:
| 250 ml | 500 ml | |
| Aniline Blue Stain, Aqueous | Part 10072B | Part 10072C |
Additionally Needed:
| Trichrome, Liver Control Slides OR Trichrome, Multi-Tissue Control Slides |
Part 4690 OR Part 4693 |
| Xylene, ACS | Part 1445 |
| Alcohol, Ethyl Denatured, 100% | Part 10841 |
| Alcohol, Ethyl Denatured, 95% | Part 10842 |
| Bouin Fluid | Part 1020 |
| Hematoxylin Stain Set, Weigert Iron | Part 1409 |
| Biebrich Scarlet-Acid Fuchsin Stain, Aqueous | Part 10161 |
| Phosphomolybdic-Phosphotungstic Acid, Aqueous | Part 1332 |
| Acetic Acid 0.5%, Aqueous | Part 100121 |
| Coplin Jar, Plastic | Part 5184 (for microwave modification) |
For storage requirements and expiration date refer to individual product labels.
APPLICATION:
Newcomer Supply Trichrome Stain, Masson, Aniline Blue procedure, with included microwave modification, is used to differentially demonstrate connective tissue elements, collagen and muscle fibers.
METHOD:
Fixation: Formalin 10%, Phosphate Buffered (Part 1090)
Technique: Paraffin sections cut at 4 microns
Solutions: All solutions are manufactured by Newcomer Supply, Inc.
All Newcomer Supply stain procedures are designed to be used with Coplin jars filled to 40 ml following the provided staining procedure.
PRESTAINING PREPARATION:
-
- If necessary, heat dry tissue sections/slides in oven.
- Preheat in Bouin Fluid (Part 1020) to 56-60°C in oven or water bath. (Skip if using overnight method or microwave procedure.)
STAINING PROCEDURE:
-
- Deparaffinize sections thoroughly in three changes of xylene, 3 minutes each. Hydrate through two changes each of 100% and 95% ethyl alcohols, 10 dips each. Wash well with distilled water.
-
- See Procedure Notes #1 and #2.
-
- Mordant in preheated Bouin Fluid (Step #2) for one hour at 56-60°C or overnight at room temperature. Cool at room temperature for 5-10 minutes.
-
- Skip Step #4 if tissue was originally Bouin fixed.
-
- Deparaffinize sections thoroughly in three changes of xylene, 3 minutes each. Hydrate through two changes each of 100% and 95% ethyl alcohols, 10 dips each. Wash well with distilled water.
Microwave Modification: See Procedure Note #3.
-
-
-
- Place slides in a plastic Coplin jar containing Bouin Fluid. Microwave for 5 minutes at 60°C.
-
-
-
- Wash well in running tap water; rinse in distilled water.
- Prepare fresh Weigert Iron Hematoxylin (Part 1409); combine, mix well.
-
- Solution A: Ferric Chloride, Acidified 20 ml
- Solution B: Hematoxylin 1%, Alcoholic 20 ml
-
-
- Stain in fresh Weigert Iron Hematoxylin for 10 minutes.
- Wash in running tap water for 10 minutes; rinse in distilled water.
-
- See Procedure Note #4.
-
- Place in Biebrich Scarlet-Acid Fuchsin Stain, Aqueous (Part 10161) for 2 minutes.
- Rinse in distilled water.
- Place in Phosphomolybdic-Phosphotungstic Acid, Aqueous (Part 1332) for 10 to15 minutes.
- Transfer directly into Aniline Blue Stain, Aqueous for 5 minutes.
- Rinse in distilled water.
- Place in Acetic Acid 0.5%, Aqueous (Part 100121) for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Dehydrate in two changes each of 95% and 100% ethyl alcohol. Clear in three changes of xylene, 10 dips each; coverslip with compatible mounting medium.
RESULTS:
| Collagen and mucin | Blue |
| Muscle fibers, cytoplasm and keratin | Red |
| Nuclei | Blue/black |
PROCEDURE NOTES:
-
- Drain slides after each step to prevent solution carry over.
- Do not allow sections to dry out at any point during procedure.
- The microwave procedure was tested using a laboratory-grade microwave oven. This procedure is a guideline and techniques should be developed for use in your laboratory.
- If Weigert Iron Hematoxylin is not completely washed from tissue sections, nuclear and cytoplasmic staining may be compromised.
- If using a xylene substitute, follow manufacturer’s recommendation for deparaffinization and clearing steps.
REFERENCES:
-
- Brown, Richard. Histologic Preparations: Common Problems and Their Solutions. Northfield, Ill.: College of American Pathologists, 2009. 95-101.
- Carson, Freida L. and Christa Hladik. Histotechnology: A Self-Instructional Text. 3rd ed. Chicago, Ill.: American Society of Clinical Pathologists, 2009. 162-165.
- Sheehan, Dezna C. and Barbara B. Hrapchak. Theory and Practice of Histotechnology. 2nd ed. St. Louis: Mosby, 1980. 191-192.
- Vacca, Linda L. Laboratory Manual of Histochemistry. New York: Raven Press, 1985. 308-310.
- Modifications developed by Newcomer Supply Laboratory.
Tech Memo 2: Trichrome Stain, McLetchie, Aniline Blue
SOLUTION:
| 250 ml | 500 ml | |
| Aniline Blue Stain, Aqueous | Part 10072B | Part 10072C |
Additionally Needed:
| Trichrome, Liver Control Slides OR Trichrome, Multi-Tissue Control Slides |
Part 4690 OR Part 4693 |
| Xylene, ACS | Part 1445 |
| Alcohol, Ethyl Denatured, 100% | Part 10841 |
| Alcohol, Ethyl Denatured, 95% | Part 10842 |
| Biebrich Scarlet-Acid Fuchsin Stain, Aqueous | Part 10161 |
| Iodine, Weigert & Lugol, Aqueous | Part 12092 |
| Phosphotungstic Acid 2%, Alcoholic | Part 13342 |
For storage requirements and expiration date refer to individual product labels.
APPLICATION:
Newcomer Supply Trichrome Stain, McLetchie, Aniline Blue procedure is for the differential demonstration of collagen and muscle fibers. This modified trichrome protocol provides time efficient results without the use of Bouin Fluid or a hematoxylin nuclear stain.
METHOD:
Fixation: Formalin 10%, Phosphate Buffered (Part 1090)
Technique: Paraffin sections cut at 4 microns
Solutions: All solutions are manufactured by Newcomer Supply, Inc.
All Newcomer Supply stain procedures are designed to be used with Coplin jars filled to 40 ml following the provided staining procedure.
STAINING PROCEDURE:
-
- If necessary, heat dry tissue sections/slides in oven.
- Deparaffinize sections thoroughly in three changes of xylene, 3 minutes each. Hydrate through two changes each of 100% and 95% ethyl alcohols, 10 dips each. Wash well with distilled water.
-
- See Procedure Notes #1 and #2.
-
- Place in Biebrich Scarlet-Acid Fuchsin Stain, Aqueous (Part 10161) for 5 minutes.
- Rinse slides in several changes of distilled water.
- Place in Iodine, Weigert & Lugol, Aqueous (Part 12092) for 2 minutes.
- Rinse slides in several changes of distilled water.
- Differentiate one slide at a time in Phosphotungstic Acid 2%, Alcoholic (Part 13342) for 15-30 seconds with gentle agitation.
-
- To avoid over-differentiation do not exceed 30 seconds.
- If sections are over-differentiated, wash well in distilled water and repeat Steps #3 through #7.
-
- Rinse quickly in several changes of distilled water.
- Stain in Aniline Blue Stain, Aqueous for 1-3 minutes.
- Rinse in several changes of distilled water.
- Dehydrate in two changes each of 95% and 100% ethyl alcohol. Clear in three changes of xylene, 10 dips each; coverslip with compatible mounting medium.
RESULTS:
| Collagen | Blue |
| Muscle fibers, cytoplasm and keratin | Magenta to red |
| Nuclei | Dark red |
PROCEDURE NOTES:
-
- Drain slides after each step to prevent solution carry over.
- Do not allow sections to dry out at any point during procedure.
- If using a xylene substitute, follow manufacturer’s recommendation for deparaffinization and clearing steps.
REFERENCES:
-
- Carson, Freida L. and Christa Cappellano. Histotechnology: A Self-instructional Text. 5th ed. Chicago: ASCP Press, 2020. 162-166.
- McLetchie, Norman G.B. “Trichrome McLetchie Modification”. Laboratory Procedure: Lakes Region General Healthcare, Laconia, NH.
- Modifications developed by Newcomer Supply Laboratory.

