Periodic Acid Schiff Test: Booking, Price, and Results
About Periodic Acid Schiff Test: Booking, Price, and Results
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | PAS Stain, PAS Staining, Periodic Acid-Schiff Stain, PAS-D (with diastase) |
| Sample Type | Tissue biopsy, blood smear, or bone marrow aspirate |
| Fasting Required | No |
| Report Time | 2 to 5 working days (may extend to 10 to 14 days for complex cases) |
| Recommended For | All ages and genders, as clinically indicated |
| Price | Starting at ₹225 |
What Is a Periodic Acid Schiff Test?
The Periodic Acid Schiff test, commonly called the PAS Stain test, is a specialised laboratory staining technique used to detect carbohydrates in tissue samples. A pathologist applies chemical stains to a thin section of tissue and examines it under a microscope. The test is ordered when a doctor suspects certain infections, metabolic disorders, kidney disease, or specific cancers. It is also known as PAS Staining or Periodic Acid-Schiff Stain.
What Does a Periodic Acid Schiff Test Measure?
The PAS Stain works by highlighting substances that contain sugar molecules in tissue. These substances appear bright magenta-pink in colour under the microscope.
The test identifies the following in tissue samples:
- Polysaccharides (complex sugars): Detects glycogen, glycoproteins, glycolipids, and mucins — substances found in many normal and diseased tissues.
- Basement membranes: Visualises the thin structural layers beneath cells, which are useful for assessing kidney disease.
- Fungal cell walls: Identifies fungi such as Cryptococcus, Histoplasma, Aspergillus, and Blastomyces because their cell walls are rich in carbohydrates.
- Lymphoblasts: Stains abnormal immature white blood cells seen in certain types of leukaemia with a characteristic block-like pattern.
Why Is a Periodic Acid Schiff Test Done?
A doctor may order a PAS Stain test when a tissue sample needs to be examined for specific conditions. Below are the common reasons this test is requested.
Common Symptoms That May Require This Test
Several symptoms may prompt a doctor to request this test on a biopsy specimen:
- Unexplained enlargement of the liver
- Suspected fungal infection in skin, lung, or other organs
- Abnormal kidney function results
- Muscle weakness with no clear cause
- Unexplained skin lesions or rashes
- Suspected leukaemia based on blood counts
- Persistent or chronic diarrhoea
Conditions This Test Can Help Detect
The Periodic Acid Schiff test helps identify a range of conditions, including:
- Glycogen storage diseases: Inherited conditions where glycogen builds up abnormally in muscle or liver cells.
- Fungal infections: Including Candida, Aspergillus, and Cryptococcus infections in tissue.
- Kidney diseases: Particularly conditions that affect the glomerular basement membrane, such as diabetic nephropathy.
- Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency: An inherited liver and lung condition identified by distinctive PAS-positive globules in liver cells.
- Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL): Where lymphoblasts show strong, block-like PAS positivity.
- Mucin-secreting tumours: Including adenocarcinomas and Paget's disease of the breast.
- Whipple's disease: A rare bacterial infection detected by staining affected immune cells in intestinal tissue.
How to Prepare and What to Expect
Preparation for the PAS Stain is straightforward, as the staining itself requires no patient preparation. The main procedure to be aware of is the biopsy used to collect the tissue sample.
Do You Need to Fast?
No fasting is required for this test. The staining is performed entirely in the laboratory on an already-collected tissue sample.
Practical Tips Before Your Test
Keep the following points in mind before your biopsy appointment:
- Inform your doctor about all medications, supplements, and blood thinners you are currently taking.
- Follow any specific pre-biopsy instructions provided by your healthcare team.
- Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that allows easy access to the biopsy site.
- Ask your doctor about care for the biopsy site after the procedure.
Step-by-Step Procedure
Here is what happens from sample collection through to the laboratory result:
- A tissue sample is collected via biopsy from the relevant site — this could be skin, liver, kidney, muscle, or another tissue — or via a blood smear or bone marrow aspirate.
- The sample is preserved using formalin and embedded in paraffin wax to hold it firm for processing.
- The laboratory cuts the preserved sample into very thin sections and places them on glass slides.
- Periodic acid is applied to the tissue section, which breaks apart certain chemical bonds in sugar molecules and creates reactive groups. Schiff reagent is then added, producing a bright magenta-pink colour wherever sugars are present.
- A counterstain (usually haematoxylin) is applied to colour the cell nuclei blue, making it easier to see the tissue structure.
- A trained pathologist examines the stained slide under a microscope and documents the findings.
Factors That Can Affect Accuracy
Several factors may influence the reliability of the staining result:
- Poor quality or delayed fixation of the tissue sample
- Use of glutaraldehyde instead of formalin during fixation can cause false-positive staining
- Stale or improperly prepared reagents in the laboratory
- Non-viable fungal organisms, which may not stain as clearly as living ones
- Variability in pathologist experience and interpretation
Understanding Your Periodic Acid Schiff Test Results
Results from a PAS Stain test must always be reviewed by a qualified pathologist and your treating doctor, as interpretation depends heavily on the tissue type and clinical context.
The table below outlines typical findings in the stained tissue:
| Finding | Normal Result | Possible Abnormal Finding |
|---|---|---|
| PAS-positive material | Present in expected amounts for that tissue type | Excess deposits suggesting glycogen accumulation or a mucin-secreting tumour |
| Background and nuclei | Blue counterstain, normal structure | Structural disruption or abnormal cell patterns |
| Basement membranes | Normal thickness, even staining | Thickening, suggesting kidney disease |
| Fungal elements | Absent | Presence of hyphae or yeast indicates a fungal infection |
"These ranges are general guidelines. Your doctor will interpret your results based on your age, health history, and other factors. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised medical advice."
Results During Special Conditions
Certain underlying conditions can directly influence what the stain reveals. Diseases such as glycogen storage disorders, fungal infections, and some cancers cause characteristic changes in PAS staining that guide the diagnosis. In addition, an individual's genetic makeup may affect results in conditions such as alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, where the gene variant determines the extent of PAS-positive globule accumulation in liver cells.
How to Maintain Healthy Levels
Because the PAS Stain is a diagnostic test rather than a routine monitoring tool, there are no specific lifestyle changes that alter staining results. General tissue and organ health can be supported by:
- Eating a balanced diet rich in vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein supports liver and kidney health.
- Staying well hydrated to support kidney function.
- Attending regular health check-ups so that any underlying condition can be identified and managed early with your doctor's guidance.
Lupin Diagnostics Periodic Acid Schiff Test Price and Home Collection
The Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS Stain) test is available at Lupin Diagnostics with prices starting at ₹225, and home sample collection is available for eligible sample types. The table below provides approximate city-wise prices for reference:
| City | Approximate Price (₹) |
|---|---|
| Mumbai | ₹450 |
| Bengaluru | ₹450 |
| Chennai | ₹450 |
| Hyderabad | ₹450 |
| Kolkata | ₹450 |
| Pune | ₹450 |
| Ahmednagar | ₹450 |
Prices are indicative and may vary by location. Please confirm the current price at the time of booking.
How to Book
- Select the test on the Lupin Diagnostics website.
- Choose your city and preferred time slot.
- Opt for home sample collection by a certified phlebotomist, or visit your nearest Lupin Diagnostics centre.
- Receive your report via email or WhatsApp within the stipulated turnaround time.
Home Collection
Home collection is available for eligible samples across multiple cities. For samples requiring surgical procedures, you will have to visit your doctor or the testing facility. All samples are processed in NABL-accredited laboratories by trained technologists. Your digital report is delivered via email or WhatsApp once ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
The PAS Stain test is a histopathology technique that detects carbohydrates such as glycogen, glycoproteins, and mucins in tissue samples. Doctors use it to investigate conditions including glycogen storage diseases, fungal infections, kidney disease, liver disorders, and certain leukaemias. It is a specialised test ordered for specific diagnostic purposes.
The sample type depends on what your doctor is investigating. It may be a tissue biopsy taken during a minor surgical procedure, a blood smear, a bone marrow aspirate, or nail clippings for a suspected fungal nail infection. Your doctor will advise you on the appropriate sample type.
No fasting or special preparation is needed. For blood or bone marrow samples, staying well hydrated is helpful. If a tissue biopsy is involved, follow any procedure-specific instructions given by your doctor or the clinical team.
Results are generally available within 2 to 5 working days. The exact turnaround time may vary depending on the type of sample and the complexity of the analysis required by the pathologist.
A positive result, shown as bright magenta staining, indicates the presence of carbohydrate-containing material. Whether this is significant depends entirely on the tissue examined. Your pathologist's report will describe the findings in detail, and your doctor will explain what it means for your health.
Yes. The Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS Stain) test reacts with the carbohydrate-rich cell walls of fungal organisms, making them clearly visible under a microscope. It is commonly used to detect infections such as candidiasis, tinea pedis, and onychomycosis in skin, nail, and tissue biopsies.
Home collection is available for blood samples. Bone marrow and tissue biopsies, however, require collection at a medical facility as they involve a minor procedure performed by a trained clinician. Contact Lupin Diagnostics to confirm availability for your specific sample type.
Periodic Acid Schiff Test: Booking, Price, and Results
