Frequency of orcein positive HBsAg in liver specimens obtained from medical college museums, medicolegal autopsies and wedge biopsies.

ABSTRACT

85 liver samples were stained with H & E and orcein. Of these 40 were from medicolegal autopsies, 30 from preserved specimens of medical college museums and 15 wedge biopsies. Three of the five cirrhotic museum specimens showed HBsAg by orcein. The remaining cases including three cirrhosis and two HCC were negative for HBsAg. HBsAg was found to be more frequently associated with cirrhosis. The autopsy samples were histologically normal and HBsAg was not seen. Old museum specimens did not loose their orcein positivity despite preservation in formalin for a long time.