What is mucicarmine staining?

Mucicarmine staining is a histological technique used to identify mucin in tissue samples. Mucin is a complex glycoprotein found in various tissues, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, and mucous membranes. The staining technique involves the use of a dye called mucicarmine, which stains the neutral and acid mucosubstances found in mucin. The staining is done by fixing the tissue sample in formalin, then immersing it in a solution of mucicarmine. After staining, the sample is dehydrated, cleared, and mounted for examination under a microscope. The mucicarmine staining technique is commonly used in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal conditions such as carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, as well as in the identification of mucous glands in organs such as the lungs. It is a useful diagnostic tool in pathology and helps in identifying the presence of tumour and is especially useful in the diagnosis of carcinoma.