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What is the Giemsa Stain?
What is the Giemsa Stain?
The Giemsa Stain was initially created as a means to identify malaria parasites in blood samples. The Giemsa stain is no longer used as a stain for malaria, with the Center for Disease Control reccomending it only be used when a fast result is needed. Otherwise, the Giemsa stain can be used to stain blood, bone marrow, and cell smears.
The Giemsa Stain was initially created as a means to identify malaria parasites in blood samples. The Giemsa stain is no longer used as a stain for malaria, with the Center for Disease Control reccomending it only be used when a fast result is needed. Otherwise, the Giemsa stain can be used to stain blood, bone marrow, and cell smears.
Barcia JJ. The Giemsa stain: its history and applications. Int J Surg Pathol. 2007 Jul;15(3):292-6. doi: 10.1177/1066896907302239. PMID: 17652540.
Khulmann, W. D. (2006) Romanowsky-Giemsa staining. https://esp.mit.edu/download/a0fa2f3c-4c33-4b35-bc6b-caa939eda906/S14744_IET_histostain_06.pdf
Safety:
Safety:
The Giemsa stain is an acute oral toxin and a serious eye irritant. Safety protocols advise the use of lab goggles, gloves, and protective clothing. If the stain comes into contact with your eyes, rinse for 15 minutes or more. If symptoms persist, call a doctor. If the stain comes into contact with your skin, rinse for at least 15 minutes and call a doctor if symptoms persist.
When combined with the Wright stain, the so-called Wright-Giemsa stain acts as an acute oral, dermal, and inhalation toxin. The stain can also be a single-exposure organ toxin, specifically to your eyes and central nervous system. Symptoms of oral exposure include nausea and vomiting. When in use, work under the hood wearing a mask, goggles, gloves, and protective clothing. Make sure to wash your hands after handling the stain. The Wright-Giemsa stain is highly flammable. Keep away from open flames. If exposure to the stain occurs despite preventative measures, call a doctor.
Sigma-Aldrich Safety Data Sheet
Staining Analysis:
Staining Analysis:
Components stained blue:
Components stained blue:
Nucleus
Basophil granules
Lymphocytes (dark blue nucleus, light blue cytoplasm)
Components stained red:
Components stained red:
Cytoplasm
Neutrophil Nucleus
Components stained purple:
Components stained purple:
Platelets
Eosinophil Nucleus
Neutrophil Nucleus
Basophil Nucleus
Monocyte Nucleus
Components stained pink:
Components stained pink:
Erythrocytes
Eosinophil cytoplasm
Neutrophil cytoplasm
Monocyte cytoplasm
Giri, D. (2019) Wright’s Stain : Preparation, Principle, Procedure and Results. https://laboratorytests.org/wrights-stain/
Mokobi, F. (2022) Giemsa Stain- Principle, Procedure, Results, Interpretation. https://microbenotes.com/giemsa-stain-principle-procedure-results-interpretation/#:~:text=Giemsa%20stain%20is%20a%20classic,leukocyte%20nuclear%20chromatin%20stains%20magenta.
Gajendra, S., Jha, B., Goel, S., Sahni, T., Sharma, R., Shariq, M., Jaiswal, S. and Sachdev, R. (2015), Leishman and Giemsa stain: a new reliable staining technique for blood/bone marrow smears. Int. Jnl. Lab. Hem., 37: 774-782. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijlh.12408
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Tota, Giuseppina & Coccaro, Nicoletta & Zagaria, Antonella & Anelli, Luisa & Casieri, Paola & Cellamare, Angelo & Minervini, Angela & Minervini, Crescenzio & Brunetti, Claudia & Impera, Luciana & Carluccio, Paola & Cumbo, Cosimo & Specchia, Giorgina & Albano, Francesco. (2014). ADAMTS2 gene dysregulation in T/myeloid mixed phenotype acute leukemia. BMC Cancer. 14. 963. 10.1186/1471-2407-14-963.
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