Which staining method can demonstrate both neutral and acidic lipids?

• A. Nile Blue Sulfate
• B. Oil Red O
• C. Sudan Black B
• D. OTAN

Answer: (A)

Staining lipids by their chemical type lets you see how different lipid classes are distributed in a tissue. Nile Blue sulfate is special because it stains both neutral lipids and acidic lipids in different colors on the same section—neutral lipids turn pink/red and acidic lipids blue. This dual coloring lets you visualize and distinguish the two lipid pools in one slide, which is why it’s the best choice for demonstrating both neutral and acidic lipids. Other stains either highlight lipids in general or primarily stain one class, so they don’t provide the same differential view.