What type of staining is used immediately after cells are removed from a living body?

Supravital staining is specifically designed for use on living cells, or cells that have been freshly removed from a living organism. This technique allows the assessment of cellular structures and functions while the cells are still alive, providing valuable insights into their morphology and physiological state. The stains used in supravital staining can penetrate living cells and interact with cellular components, highlighting aspects that might not be visible with other types of staining that require fixation and usually involve dead cells.

This method is particularly useful in studies where real-time observations of cellular behavior are necessary, such as in investigations of cell metabolism, morphology, movement, or other vital functions. The ability to stain cells while they are still viable grants researchers the opportunity to observe dynamic cellular processes in their natural state.

Negative staining, direct staining, and progressive staining serve different purposes and often involve cells that are fixed, which leads to altered cellular characteristics and may not reflect their original living state.