Grocott-Gomori methenamine silver stain

Last revised by Daniel J Bell on 19 Mar 2024

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Thibodeau R, Bell D, Jones J, Grocott-Gomori methenamine silver stain. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 27 Jun 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-173597

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-173597

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/173597

rID:

173597

Article created:

15 Aug 2023, Ryan Thibodeau ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Ryan Thibodeau had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Ryan Thibodeau's current disclosures

Last revised:

19 Mar 2024, Daniel J Bell ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Daniel J Bell had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Daniel J Bell's current disclosures

Revisions:

3 times, by 3 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Sections:

Pathology

Tags:

rewrite, reference needed, histological stain, histology, pathology, fungus, fungal infection

Synonyms:

Grocott methenamine silver stain
Gomori methenamine silver stain
GMS stain
Grocott's methenamine silver stain
Gomori's methenamine silver stain

Grocott-Gomori methenamine silver (GMS) stain is a histological stain frequently used to screen specimens for fungal organisms. The procedure relies on the presence of polysaccharides along the fungal cell wall.

During the staining process, chromic acid is first applied to the specimen which oxidizes the polysaccharides. This produces aldehydes. Grocott alkaline hexamine-silver solution is then applied, which reduces silver ions to black amorphous silver ¹.