Alcian Blue is used in the clinical histology laboratory to demonstrate acid mucins which can be secreted by various connective and epithelial tissue tumors. It is most commonly used on tissue samples obtained from the gastrointestinal tract.
The detection of mucins in certain tissue samples may also be indicative of collagen diseases and atherosclerosis.
Alcian Blue may also be used in combination with the PAS staining procedure so that both acid and neutral mucins can be demonstrated in the same tissue sample. Alcian Blue will stain acidic mucins blue and PAS will stain neutral mucins rose red. This technique is particularly useful in diagnosing diseases of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
