counterstain
/ˈkaʊntərˌsteɪn/
noun
- A dye used in microscopy to color parts of a specimen that are not stained by the primary stain, making details easier to see.
- Without a counterstain, the bacteria were invisible under the microscope.
- The lab technician applied a counterstain to highlight the cell nuclei.
- Eosin is a common counterstain used in histology to color the cytoplasm.
Synonyms
verb
- To apply a secondary stain to a microscope specimen to reveal additional details.
- She counterstained the bacteria with a red dye to make them stand out.
- The biologist counterstained the tissue sample to show both the cell walls and the nuclei.
- You should counterstain the slide after the primary stain to improve contrast.