Carstairs' Method for Fibrin & Platelets

Created by Kathleen Patrick, Modified on Mon, 11 Nov at 9:14 AM by Kathleen Patrick

EMS26381

Components:

Ferric Ammonium Sulphate 5%

Mayer's Haematoxylin

Picric Acid-Orange G Solution

Ponceau Acid Fuchsin Solution

Phosphotungstic Acid 1% Aqueous

Aniline Blue Solution

Fixation:

Formalin-Saline for 48 hours or more

Sections:

Cut paraffin at 5µm sections

Staining Procedures:

Hydrate slides to distilled water.
Mordant in Ferric Ammonium Sulphate, 5% for 5 minutes. Rinse in running tap water.
Stain with Mayer's Haematoxylin for 5 minutes. Rinse in running tap water.
Stain in the Picric Acid-Orange G Solution for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Rinse once in distilled water.
Stain in Ponceau Fuchsin Solution for 1 to 5 minutes. Rinse in distilled water.
Differentiate with Phosphotungstic Acid, 1% until the muscle is red and background pale pink. Rinse in distilled water.
Stain with Aniline Blue Solution for 30 minutes to 2 hours. Rinse in several changes of distilled water.
Dehydrate, clear in Xylene and coverslip, using a synthetic mounting medium.

Stain Results:

Cell	Fixation Time: 48 Hours or more	Fixation Time: Less than 48 hours
Fibrin	Bright Red	Orange to Orange Red
Platelets	Grey Blue or Navy	Light Grey
Collagen	Bright Blue	Bright Blue
Muscle	Red	Red
Red Blood Cells	Clear Yellow	Red, Green or Yellow