<prompt> Best stain for cryptococcal capsule -Gram stainIndia ink preparationGiemsa stainMethanamine-silver stain  <response>: Ans. is b i.e., India Ink preparation C. neoformans is best demonstrated in CSF by direct microscopy. The capsule is seen as a clear halo around the yeast cells in unstained wet preparations of CSF mixed with a drop of India ink or nigrosine. Methenamine silver stain would be the best choice for a tissue sample. 