title: Optimize oxidation for the fastest hematoxylin staining.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hematoxylin solutions are complex and require additives to produce purple-blue colorfast staining.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the best hematoxylin cocktail and fastest immersion times for frozen tissue preparation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hematoxylin solution type, oxidizer concentration, and immersion time were tested simultaneously on normal skin frozen sections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regressive hematoxylin solutions stained faster than progressive solutions. Permanganate oxidized premixed hematoxylin best.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Augmenting premixed regressive hematoxylin solution with permanganate provides rapid staining, which is advantageous for frozen sections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, USA. davisdaniela@uams.edu
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005629:Frozen Sections; D006416:Hematoxylin; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D006416:Hematoxylin