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What is the Acid-Schiff Stain?
What is the Acid-Schiff Stain?
The Acid-Schiff stain, also known as the Periodic Acid-Schiff reaction (PAS), is a polychromatic histological stain that binds to polysaccharides (carbohydrates). Specifically, the stain can be used to highlight the presence of glycogen, glycoproteins, glycolipids, and mucin by reacting with 1-2 glycols on carbohydrates. For a more biochemical explanation, click here.
The Acid-Schiff stain, also known as the Periodic Acid-Schiff reaction (PAS), is a polychromatic histological stain that binds to polysaccharides (carbohydrates). Specifically, the stain can be used to highlight the presence of glycogen, glycoproteins, glycolipids, and mucin by reacting with 1-2 glycols on carbohydrates. For a more biochemical explanation, click here.
There are several variations of the Acid-Schiff stain including the Periodic Acid-Schiff reaction with distaste (PAS-D), and the Alcian blue/PAS stain (PAB). The Periodic Acid-Schiff reaction with distaste stains glycogen differentially from other molecules that are stained by PAS. The Alcian blue/PAS stain is used to add contrast between neutral and acidic mucins.
There are several variations of the Acid-Schiff stain including the Periodic Acid-Schiff reaction with distaste (PAS-D), and the Alcian blue/PAS stain (PAB). The Periodic Acid-Schiff reaction with distaste stains glycogen differentially from other molecules that are stained by PAS. The Alcian blue/PAS stain is used to add contrast between neutral and acidic mucins.
Abreu Velez AM, Upegui Zapata YA, Howard MS. Periodic Acid-Schiff Staining Parallels the Immunoreactivity Seen By Direct Immunofluorescence in Autoimmune Skin Diseases. N Am J Med Sci. 2016 Mar;8(3):151-5. doi: 10.4103/1947-2714.179132. PMID: 27114972; PMCID: PMC4821094.
Fu, D. A., & Campbell-Thompson, M. (2017). Periodic Acid-Schiff Staining with Diastase. Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.), 1639, 145–149. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7163-3_14
https://www.leicabiosystems.com/us/knowledge-pathway/special-stain-techniques-for-the-evaluation-of-mucins/
Safety:
Safety:
When doing PAS staining, it is recommended that you work under a hood, wearing goggles, gloves, and a lab coat. If any chemicals come into contact with your clothes, immediately get rid of them and change. Avoid inhaling the chemicals, and make sure to wash hands after handling. Chemicals used in these stains can cause serious eye, respiratory, and skin irritation, as well as being potentially carcinogenic.
Sigma Aldrich Safety Data Sheet (PAS)
Staining Analysis:
Staining Analysis:
Red or purple or pink:
Anything with 1-2 glycols (glycogen, carbohydrates, different types of fibers, etc.)
Blue or green:
Nuclei
Mokobi, F. (2022). Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) Staining. https://microbenotes.com/periodic-acid-schiff-pas-staining/#:~:text=Results%20and%20Interpretation%20*%20Glycogen%2C%20mucin%2C%20elastic,dye%20used.%20*%20The%20background%20stains%20blue.
StainsFile. (n.d.) Periodic Acid Schiff Reaction. https://www.stainsfile.com/protocols/periodic-acid-schiff-reaction/
Moran CORE Clinical Opthamology Resource for Education. (n.d.) Stains and Processing. https://morancore.utah.edu/section-04-ophthalmic-pathology/stains-and-processing/
Sayar, Ersin & Kalay, Salih & Yilmaz, Aygen & Oztekin, Osman & Islek, Ali & Elpek, Gülsüm & Kalay, Zuhal & Tezel, Gonul & Artan, Reha. (2014). Microvillus Inclusion Disease Associated with Necrotizing Enterocolitis in a Premature Infant. AJP reports. 4. e61-e64. 10.1055/s-0034-1370353.
Robinson, Liam & Sengoatsi, · & van Heerden, Willie. (2021). Concomitant Congenital Intraoral Dermoid Cyst and Heterotopic Gastrointestinal Cyst. Head and Neck Pathology. 15. 10.1007/s12105-020-01160-0.
Madrazo-Ibarra A, Vaitla P. Histology, Nephron. [Updated 2023 Feb 17]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. [Figure, Normal Glomerulus, Periodic Acid-Schiff Stain...]Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554411/figure/article-25707.image.f2/
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