A pre-treatment slide can be used to identify the difference between AL and AA. Which stain is used for this purpose?

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Multiple Choice

A pre-treatment slide can be used to identify the difference between AL and AA. Which stain is used for this purpose?

Explanation:
Cono red is used because it binds specifically to amyloid fibrils. When you apply a potassium permanganate pre-treatment before the Congo red stain, you can tell AL from AA by the dye’s persistence. AA amyloid is oxidized and loses Congo red staining afterKMnO4 pretreatment, whereas AL amyloid remains Congo red positive. Under polarized light, Congo red–stained amyloid shows apple-green birefringence, confirming its presence. So Congo red is the stain used for this differential test. The other stains aren’t amyloid-specific: hematoxylin is a general nuclear stain, PAS highlights carbohydrates, and methylene blue is a basic stain for cell detail.

Cono red is used because it binds specifically to amyloid fibrils. When you apply a potassium permanganate pre-treatment before the Congo red stain, you can tell AL from AA by the dye’s persistence. AA amyloid is oxidized and loses Congo red staining afterKMnO4 pretreatment, whereas AL amyloid remains Congo red positive. Under polarized light, Congo red–stained amyloid shows apple-green birefringence, confirming its presence. So Congo red is the stain used for this differential test. The other stains aren’t amyloid-specific: hematoxylin is a general nuclear stain, PAS highlights carbohydrates, and methylene blue is a basic stain for cell detail.

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