During H&E staining, if the nuclei appear brown instead of blue, the most likely cause is:
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Correct answer: Inadequate 'blueing' step
Hematoxylin initially stains nuclei a reddish-brown color; the 'blueing' step (using an alkaline solution) is required to shift the color to the characteristic crisp blue. Failure to blue properly leaves the nuclei brown/red.
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More Histological Artifacts questions
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