Which tissue is used as the control slide for Gomori Burtner?

• A. Skin
• B. Grey matter
• C. Spleen or liver
• D. Infected tissue

Answer: (A)

A reliable normal tissue is used as a reference to confirm that the staining procedure and reagents are functioning correctly. For Gomori Burtner, skin is ideal because it provides a stable, well-defined baseline: the epidermal-dermal junction and surrounding connective tissue give a uniform, predictable pattern when the silver impregnation steps are working properly. This makes it easier to detect whether the stain is developing and whether the oxidation and development steps are proceeding correctly. In contrast, grey matter, spleen or liver, or infected tissue can vary in composition or state (necrosis, pathogens, inflammation), which can obscure the expected reaction and make it harder to judge if the technique is performing properly. So skin serves as a dependable control to validate the staining process.