Simplified Acid Orcein and Giemsa Technique for Routine Staining of Skin Sections

Abstract

The normal and pathological skin presents a variety of tissue elements that are not demonstrated or not easily differentiated in sections stained with the routine hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) combination. In 1944, a modification of Unna-Taenzer's method for elastic fibers and cellular elements was described,¹ which combined relative ease and great reliability with differential staining of more skin constituents than can be visualized with the original method. In recent years, a new type of synthetic orcein has become available and has made further simplification of the technique possible. Tissues may be fixed in a dilute formalin, 70% or absolute alcohol, or formol-alcohol. Fixatives containing chromates, mercury, or picric acid should be avoided. Paraffin sections may be from 5_μ to 15_μ thick. Sections 10_μ in thickness often are preferable to thinner ones, as they give a better threedimensional picture. Solutions A. Dissolve 0.2 gm. of