Rhodamine B fluorescence as a stain for amniotic fluid squames in maternal pulmonary embolism and fetal lungs

Abstract

Rhodamine B fluorescence is presented as a simple, rapid, highly sensitive, permanent method for the histologic detection of squames in maternal amniotic fluid emboli and fetal lungs in cases of intrauterine asphyxia. The method may be used on alcohol fixed smears or formalin fixed paraffin sections. The application of this procedure allows for identification of sparsely distributed fetal squames which otherwise may be overlooked by less sensitive tinctorial methods which may also be more tedious in technical preparation and screening.