Congo Red Staining Protocol for Amyloid

Stain for Amyloid Deposits in a little over 60 minutes!

Each year 3000 cases of amyloidosis are diagnosed in the United States. Amyloidosis is a rare disease that occurs when amyloid proteins build up in an organ or tissue and are distributed in the body systemically (throughout the whole body) or locally (in a single tissue). Systemic amyloidosis is more common than localized amyloidosis, with the ratio being approximately 9:1.

There are three major types of Systemic Amyloidosis: Primary Amyloidosis (the most common), Familial Amyloidosis (hereditary), and Secondary Amyloidosis. Primary Amyloidosis occurs when the bone marrow produces too much antibody proteins that it starts to build up in the bloodstream and ultimately be deposited into body tissues. Familial Amyloidosis is a genetic form that is passed down through family and Secondary Amyloidosis can develop due to a chronic infection or inflammatory disease.

Localized Amyloidosis generally affects adults over the age of 80, as the body naturally makes amyloid as it ages. Localized Amyloidosis is also seen in adults who have Type II diabetes, where the amyloid protein builds up in the pancreas, as well as Alzheimer's disease, where the protein builds up in the brain.

Amyloidosis can affect different organs in different people and there is currently no known cure for this disease, although it can be diagnosed using the Congo Red Amyloid Stain Kit from American MasterTech. While there are several ways to stain for amyloid, Congo Red staining is considered the most specific technique in demonstrating amyloid in a tissue. With the Congo Red Amyloid Stain Kit, most tissue is stained a light red color and the Amyloid deposits are stained pale pink to red in just over 60 minutes. The Congo Red Amyloid Stain Kit is suitable in lieu of and comparable to the alkaline congo red method, commonly used to stain for primary, secondary, myeloma-associated, or tumor-associated amyloidosis. The MasterTech Congo Red Amyloid Stain Kit requires no working solution preparation, making it faster and more convenient than similar kits or procedures. Congo Red serves as the primary stain, producing pink to red amyloid deposits with nuclei stained blue by Modified Mayer's Hematoxylin.

The 100ml MasterTech Congo Red Amyloid Stain Kit yields between 320-500 slides and consists of: 100ml of Congo Red Stain, 100ml of Modified Mayer's Hematoxylin, and 1 Pint of 1% Sodium Hydroxide.

The Pint MasterTech Congo Red Amyloid Stain Kit yields between 680-1000 slides and consists of: 1 Pint of Congo Red Stain, 1 Pint of Modified Mayer's Hematoxylin, and 2 Pints of 1% Sodium Hydroxide.

Slide yields assume maximum slides stained per run, maximum runs per use; actual slide yields may vary.

To insure a diagnostically accurate result, pick up a pack of MasterTech Amyloid Alpha Control Slides. Each MasterTech Amyloid Special Stain control slide is prepared using top quality tissue that has been processed with the utmost care. After processing, the tissue is carefully embedded in paraffin blocks, cut at an optimal thickness, and placed on to the central region of a superfrost slide.