In histology, the HPS stain, or hematoxylin phloxine saffron stain, is a way of marking tissues. In histology, the HPS stain, or hematoxylin phloxine saffron stain, is a way of marking tissues. HPS is similar to H&E, the standard bearer in histology. However, it differentiates between the most common connective tissue (collagen) and muscle and cytoplasm by staining the former yellow and the latter two pink, unlike an H&E stain, which stains all three pink.