A new triple stain for Helicobacter pylori suitable for the autostainer: carbol fuchsin/Alcian blue/hematoxylin-eosin.
OBJECTIVE
To develop an inexpensive stain to simultaneously visualize gastric morphology and Helicobacter pylori.


METHODS
Gastric biopsies were stained with Genta stain using manual methods, and with carbol fuchsin/Alcian blue/hematoxylin-eosin using an automatic slide stainer (Sakura DRS-601). Slides were then coded and interpreted by 2 pathologists. Helicobacter pylori was scored using a visual scale (0 [none] to 5 [maximum]).


RESULTS
One hundred slides were scored; H pylori was present in 64%. Carbol fuchsin/Alcian blue/hematoxylin-eosin stain gave excellent demonstration of gastric morphology. All positive cases (score > or =2) were correctly interpreted. Thirty-six slides had a score of 1 (< or =2 bacteria per entire slide). Of these, 10 were scored negative by Genta stain and 12 were scored negative by the carbol fuchsin/Alcian blue/hematoxylin-eosin stain (P = not significant). Hematoxylin-eosin was significantly less accurate than either of the other 2 stains (P < .02).


CONCLUSIONS
The carbol fuchsin/Alcian blue/hematoxylin-eosin (El-Zimaity) stain is an economical stain suitable for simultaneous visualization of H pylori infection and gastric morphology.
Department of Medicine, VA Medical Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex 77030, USA.
H M
HM
El-Zimaity
H
H
Ota
S
S
Scott
D E
DE
Killen
D Y
DY
Graham
D000423:Alcian Blue; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS); D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006416:Hematoxylin; D006801:Humans; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*
D004396:Coloring Agents; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; C006898:carbol-fuchsin solution; D000423:Alcian Blue; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS); D006416:Hematoxylin