Stains & CD markers
Calcium
Copyright: 2003-2024, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: von Kossa method Alizarin red S Azan stain
Calcium
Author: Nat Pernick, M.D.
Last author update: 1 October 2013
Last staff update: 21 June 2021
Copyright: 2003-2024, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: von Kossa method Alizarin red S Azan stain
Cite this page: Pernick N. Calcium. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/stainscalcium.html. Accessed April 23rd, 2024.
Definition / general
- With routine staining, calcium forms a blue-black lake with hematoxylin, usually with sharp edges
- von Kossa method: silver is substituted for calcium in calcium salts; light or a photographic developer turns the silver black; only stains calcium bound to an anion such as phosphate or carbonate; most useful when large amounts of phosphates and carbonates are present, as with bone
- Alizarin red S forms an orange-red lake with calcium at a pH of 4.2; works best with small amounts of calcium such as in Michaelis-Gutman bodies; this method is used on Dupont ACA analyzer to measure serum calcium photometrically
- Azan stain used to distinguish osteoid from mineralized bone.
Microscopic (histologic) images
Images hosted on other servers:
Malakoplakia of bladder (von Kossa calcium stain)
