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Article: "Congo" Red.
- Article from:
- Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
- Article date:
- February 1, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 College of American Pathologists. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Out of Africa?
More than 100 years after its discovery, the Congo red histologic stain is still of fundamental importance in the laboratory. "Congophilic" staining of fixed tissue and the detection of apple-green birefringence when viewed under polarized light remain essential for the diagnosis of amyloidosis.[1,2] Few other laboratory tests have been used so widely and for such a long period of time. Despite Congo red's popularity, to the best of my knowledge nothing has been written about how the stain got its name. This article explores the history of the Congo red stain, focusing on its etymology.
CONGO RED AND THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY
Congo ...