Hi Marjorie,

Absolutely...........having spent several years in a hospital close to an
asbestos factory, I have seen many cases of asbestos bodies. The asbestos
fibres will not show up in the Perl's Prussian Blue method as the fibres
have to become coated with protein in order to become asbestos bodies (as
you are aware, I am sure). The asbestos fibres show up wonderfully well as
dark blue to turquoise blue and of course the morphology is quite distinct.
Be prepared to see some odd shapes in histological sections though. The
typical dumbell shape pretty much depends on the angle at which it has been
cut but in sputum preparations, the shape is undisputable.

Regards,

Evelyn Kaplan
Sultan Qaboos University,
Muscat, Oman
-----Original Message-----
From: Hagerty, Marjorie A. <mhagerty@emc.org>
To: 'Histonet' <histonet@pathology.swmed.edu>
Date: Tuesday, April 10, 2001 6:04 AM
Subject: Asbestos Bodies


>
>Pathologist is ordering an iron stain to demo asbestos bodies. Wants to
know
>if that is the best stain. I have no clue. Anyone?
>
>Thanks!
>Marg
>
>Marjorie Hagerty H.T. (ASCP) H.T.L., Q IHC
>Supervisor, Anatomic Pathology
>Eisenhower Medical Center
>39-000 Bob Hope Drive
>Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
>
>