Which stain is specifically used to identify triglycerides and neutral fats?

The stain specifically used to identify triglycerides and neutral fats is Sudan III. This stain is a lipid-soluble dye known for its ability to selectively bind to lipids, which include triglycerides and neutral fats. When tissues or cells containing lipids are treated with Sudan III, the fat molecules are stained a red-orange color, making them easily recognizable under a microscope.

Sudan III is particularly useful in histology and pathology for examining tissues where fat accumulation may indicate certain pathological conditions, such as atherosclerosis or lipid storage diseases. The specificity of this stain for triglycerides and neutral fats allows clinicians and researchers to effectively visualize and analyze fat content in samples.

In contrast, other stains listed serve different purposes. For instance, Gram stain is used in microbiology to differentiate bacterial species based on their cell wall properties. Hansel stain is utilized primarily for detecting eosinophils, while Prussian blue is employed to identify iron deposits in tissues. These stains do not have the selective affinity for lipids that Sudan III does, making it the appropriate choice for this specific identification task.