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What is Masson's Trichrome Stain?
What is Masson's Trichrome Stain?
Masson's trichrome stain, named after inventor Pierre Masson, is a polychromatic histological stain that differentially stains collagen, muscle/fibers, and erythrocytes (red blood cells). It is a trichrome stain, consisting of three dyes; hematoxylin, biebrich scarlet-acid fuschin, and aniline blue. Of course there are variants of the stain, exchanging some reagents for others, but regardless, Masson's trichrome stain is a staple in pathology laboratories worldwide.
Masson's trichrome stain, named after inventor Pierre Masson, is a polychromatic histological stain that differentially stains collagen, muscle/fibers, and erythrocytes (red blood cells). It is a trichrome stain, consisting of three dyes; hematoxylin, biebrich scarlet-acid fuschin, and aniline blue. Of course there are variants of the stain, exchanging some reagents for others, but regardless, Masson's trichrome stain is a staple in pathology laboratories worldwide.
Mokobi, K. (2022). Masson’s Trichrome Staining. https://microbenotes.com/massons-trichrome-staining/#:~:text=Masson%27s%20Trichrome%20Staining%20is%20a,fuschin%20solution%2C%20and%20Aniline%20blue.
Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. (2025). Pierre Masson, MD. https://www.cdnmedhall.ca/laureates/pierremasson
Safety:
Safety:
Masson's trichrome stain is a very strong oxidizer, quick to interact when exposed to heat. Keep the dye and its components away from heat sources and flames. The stain can also cause skin corrosion and serious eye damage. When handling Masson's trichrome stain, you should be wearing lab-appropriate clothing, gloves, and lab goggles.
If a fire does break out, extinguish with dry sand, dry chemical or alcohol-resistant foam. If the stain gets in your eyes, immediately flush out eyes and call poison control and/or a doctor. If chemical gets on your skin, immediately take off affected clothing and rinse affected body part with water. If directly inhaled, go outside and breathe fresh air while someone else calls poison control and/or a doctor.
Staining Analysis:
Staining Analysis:
Red:
Cytoplasm
Erythrocytes (red blood cells)
Muscle fibers
Epithelia
StainsFile. (n.d.) Massons Trichrome: Original Variants. https://www.stainsfile.com/protocols/massons-trichrome-original-variants/
Green or Blue:
Collagen
Bone
Dark Brown or Black:
Nuclei
Moran CORE Clinical Opthamology Resource for Education. (n.d.) Stains and Processing. https://morancore.utah.edu/section-04-ophthalmic-pathology/stains-and-processing/
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