Congo Red Fluorescence
for Amyloid

Solutions

Congo red
Congo red	0.1	g
Ethanol, 50%	100	mL

Differentiator
Potassium hydroxide	0.2	g
Ethanol, 80%	100	mL

Tissue sample
5µ paraffin sections of neutral buffered formalin fixed tissue are suitable.

Method

1. Bring sections to water via xylene and ethanol.
2. Place into congo red for 1 minute.
3. Wash with tap water.
4. Place into differentiator until the section appears to be unstained.
5. Wash with water.
6. Dehydrate with absolute ethanol.
7. Clear with xylene.
8. Mount with a fluorescence free resinous medium.

Expected results

• Amyloid  –  Orange to red fluorescence

Notes

1. This method is very similar to Highmans procedure.

 

Reference
Bancroft, J.D. and Stevens A. (1982)
Theory and practice of histological techniques Ed. 2
Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh & London, UK.