Congo Red Indicator
Congo Red is primarily used as a dye to identify amyloid deposits in tissue samples, particularly when viewed under polarized light where it exhibits a characteristic “apple-green birefringence” which is considered the gold standard for diagnosing amyloidosis; essentially, it is a specific stain for detecting amyloid proteins in a tissue sample.
Key points about Congo Red:
Function: Primarily used in pathology to identify amyloid deposits in tissues like the liver, kidney, and heart.
Microscopy technique: When stained with Congo Red, amyloid fibers appear bright apple-green under polarized light.
Diagnostic application: A positive Congo Red stain is considered diagnostic for amyloidosis.
