Van Gieson Stain

Van Gieson stain is a special coloring technique used in medical labs to examine tissue samples, especially to differentiate between muscle, collagen (connective tissue), and other structures. It uses dyes—generally, picric acid and acid fuchsin—that stain muscle fibers bright red and collagen fibers yellow. This contrast helps pathologists identify abnormalities, such as fibrosis or scarring, within tissues. The stain is valuable in diagnosing diseases related to connective tissue changes and is commonly used for tissues like skin, lungs, and heart.