Which staining control uses grey matter as the test tissue?

• A. Bielschowsky's Silver Technique
• B. Congo Red
• C. Gordon & Sweet's
• D. Gomori Burtner

Answer: (A)

Staining controls for neuropathology use a tissue type that will reliably reveal whether the stain is working as intended. Grey matter is ideal for this purpose because it is rich in neuronal cell bodies and neuropil, giving a dense network of neurites and neurofibrils. A silver impregnation method like Bielschowsky's is specifically designed to visualize these delicate neural structures—neurofibrils, axons, and related elements—so using grey matter as the test tissue provides a clear, definitive pattern that confirms the staining process is functioning correctly. If the grey matter shows the expected dark, filamentous structures with this method, you can trust the stain is performing as designed.

The other stains listed focus on different targets or use different principles (for example, Congo Red targets amyloid deposits), so they aren’t the standard choice for validating a silver stain’s ability to reveal neuronal elements in grey matter.