Is the Differentiating Solution the Right Intensity?

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Is the Differentiating Solution the Right Intensity?

With regressive and modified progressive staining, a differentiating solution is used. If the differentiating solution is made in-house, there is the potential for it to be either too weak or too strong. Both scenarios will impact staining. If the differentiating solution is stronger than intended, it will remove more hematoxylin and will make the nuclei pale. If the differentiating solution is too weak, nuclei will be under-differentiated and will appear to be over-stained and uncrisp.

The hematoxylin stain in this section of colon appears to be taking over
the section. Even the mucin in the goblet cells are stained blue.
The nuclear stain in this kidney section is very light.
Simply increasing the time in hematoxylin by 30 seconds to one minute
may be enough to darken the nuclei enough for diagnosis.