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45th Annual Conference Coming Fall 2026. Learn More

45th Annual Meeting of the Biological Stain Commission
September 26 2026
San Antonio Texas

Overview

We are excited to announce that the 45th Annual Meeting of the Biological Stain Commission will be held in conjunction with the annual convention of The National Society for Histotechnology. This meeting typically attracts over 700 attendees, most of whom are actively involved in various aspects of staining and histology. Our meeting will consist of two parts. In the morning, we will present a series of talks, focusing on the importance of certified stains, methods for their use, and how staining results can be interpreted. In the afternoon, we will host a hands-on workshop in which participants will be able to conduct seven different staining procedures and interpret the results.
 

Keynote Speaker

The BSC is proud to sponsor a talk by Dr. Michael Giacomelli, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Optics at the University of Rochester.  It is entitled “Histopathology of Live Tissues for Surgical Guidance” and will be open to all of the ~800 attendees of the NSH Convention.

Morning Platform Sessions

The morning session will be a comprehensive conference session exploring the critical role of special stains in histotechnology.  Chad Fagan, MS, will begin with “A Century of Certainty: Navigating the Complexities of BSC Stain Certification for Histology,” offering unique insights into the BSC Assay Laboratory’s century-long role in ensuring stain reliability through rigorous certification, the importance of using certified stains the laboratory, and how to fix common staining problems, using Alcian Blue as a case study to illustrate common quality control pitfalls. Following this, Carol Bain, DVM, HTL (ASCP)cm, will present “Special Stains for the ASCP Exam: What They Show and Why They Matter,” a high-yield ASCP Histotechnologist certification exam review session focused on special stains, which typically account for approximately 30-40% of exam content. The session will conclude with a case-based talk by Dr. Brian Finkelman, MD, PhD, and Dr. Bradley Turner, MD, MPH, MHA: “A Stain in the Life – Real World Examples.” Through real-world clinical cases, participants will see how special stains are used to refine differential diagnoses, influence prognosis, and guide patient management, reinforcing the direct clinical impact of staining techniques covered earlier in the program. This session will offer an invaluable opportunity to deepen your understanding of special stains in health care and biological sciences.

Afternoon Hands-on Wet Lab

This fast-paced wet lab experience is designed to teach histology scientists the way to perform several special stains by hand. Many histology laboratories outsource their special stains or use instrumentation which, although effective, is detrimental to scientists wishing to understand the theory and, more importantly, how to troubleshoot when things go wrong. This laboratory session is open to anyone wishing to expand their special stains knowledge and may be of particular benefit for those persons interested in taking the HT or HTL exams, those who are new to the histology lab, or those whose laboratories use automated staining instruments exclusively. Stains to be performed by the attendees include hematoxylin and eosin, Verhoeff van Gieson elastic stain, trichrome stain for fibrosis, von Kossa stain for calcium, Wright stain for mast cells and eosinophils, rhodanine stain for copper, and Prussian blue stain for iron.  

 Board of Trustees Meeting

September 27, 8:00-11:00 AM

The annual meeting of the BSC Board of Trustees will take place the morning following the scientific program. Items to be discussed wll be:

  • Update on Bioltechnology and Histotechnology
  • Status of the Assay Lab
  • Annual Financial Report
  • Other business

Speakers

Michael Giacomelli, Ph. D.  Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Rochester

Chad Fagan, MS.  Laboratory Manager, Biological Stain Commission

Carol Bain, DVM,  Camp Laboratory

Brian Finkelman, MD, Ph. D, and Bradley Turner MD.  University of Rochester Medical Center

Sheila Criswell, Ph. D.  University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center.

Registration and Accommodations

Registration will be handled by the National Society for Histotechnology.  To do so, go to this page and select the Registration option.  On the page that opens, click the Register Now option and start the process.  As you work through it, you will have the following options

  1. You will be able to register for the entire BSC symposium, at a cost of $175.00.
  2. You will be able to register for just the morning session of the BSC Symposium at a cost of $75.00
  3. If desired, you can register for the NSH meeting at a discounted rate and register for the BSC Symposium at that time
The NSH has arranged for discounted accommodations at  the hotels adjacent to the San Antonio Convention Center.   Information and reservation information can be found here.

Schedule


TimeTitleSpeakerInstitution
8:00Keynote AddressMichael Giacomelli, Ph. D.University of Rochester
9:45Welcome to the BSCBruce CochraneBiological Stain Commission
9:50A Century of Certainty: Navigating the Complexities of BSC Stain Certification for histologyChad FaganBiological Stain Commission
10:15Special Stains and ASCP PreparationCarol BainCamp Laboratory
11:15A Stain in the Life: Real World ExamplesBradley Turner and Brian FinkelmanUniversity of Rochester Medical Center
11:45BSC Business Meeting (Members Only)Bruce CochraneBiological Stain Commission
12:00Lunch
1:00-5:00Hands-on Staining WorkshopSheila Criswell et al.University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center and Others