Nuclear staining in a hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained histologic section may show suboptimal features for a number of reasons.
Suboptimal staining includes:
(1) indistinct chromatin or insufficiently crisp
(2) smudgy nuclei
(3) nuclear bubbling
Possible causes:
(1) poor or incomplete fixation
(2) incomplete removal of water
(3) exposure of slides to excessive heat during staining or drying
Corrective action:
(1) Make sure that tissue blocks are well-fixed.
(2) Make sure that the slides are properly dehydrated prior to staining in eosin.
(3) Avoid exposure to high temperatures or keep any exposure to a minimum. Use the lowest effective temperature for a task.
