SOURCES OF CONTROLS FOR SPECIAL STAINS

       Entity                              Source

alkaline phosphatase        normal rat kidney

amyloid                autopsy, amyloidosis

argentaffin granules                small intestine

argyrophil granules                small intestine

axons                        cerebrum, cerebellum, spinal cord

basement membrane        normal kidney

bile                        liver, jaundice

calcium carbonate                rat bone and calcified lesions

calcium oxalate                normal bone

chromaffin                adrenal medulla with chromate fixative

cholesterol                normal adrenal gland

collagen                normal skin, lung, kidney

copper                        premature baby liver or liver of Wilsons disease; formalin fixed for not longer than 48 hours

cross striations                normal skeletal and cardiac muscle

dendrites                cerebrum, cerebellum, spinal cord

DNA-RNA                normal lymph node

elastica                        normal lung, intestine, aorta

fibrin                        clot - less than 72 hours old

fat - lipoids                adipose (breast), fatty liver

glycogen                normal liver; fix in alcoholic formalin

hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)        liver, viral hepatitis

hemoglobin                kidney, hemoglobinuria

iron                        liver, hemochromatosis

keratin                        skin, palm of hand, or sole of foot, keratinizing tumor

leukocyte esterase                skin, large intestine, uterus

mast cells                skin, large intestine, uterus

melanin                        normal skin, malignant melanoma

mucin                        normal small intestine and submaxillary glands

mucopolysaccharides        normal skin, umbilical cord

myelin                        cerebrum, cerebellum, spinal cord

Nissl substance                cerebrum, cerebellum, spinal cord

nonspecific esterase of monocytes,        lung containing histiocytes

histiocytes and megakaryocytes

phospholipids                normal cerebrum and spinal cord

plasma cells                lymph node

reticulum                normal liver, lymph node, intestine

uric acid                gouty joint articulations

       

Controls for bacteria and microorganisms usually may be obtained from positive autopsy and surgical cases.  If you are unable to obtain positive material, controls are available

from most local and state public health services.