Giemsa, May-Grunwald
Reagents for this procedure are sold as individual stain solutions and are available for purchase under separate part numbers with storage requirements and expiration date designated per bottle.
Tech Memo 1: May-Grunwald Giemsa Stain for Paraffin Sections
SOLUTIONS:
500 ml | 1 Liter | |
Jenner Stock Stain | Part 1210A | Part 1210B |
Giemsa Stock Stain, Wolbach | Part 1121A | Part 1121B |
Additionally Needed:
Giemsa Control Slides | Part 4240 |
Xylene, ACS | Part 1445 |
Alcohol, Ethyl Denatured, 100% | Part 10841 |
Alcohol, Ethyl Denatured, 95% | Part 10842 |
Alcohol, Methanol Anhydrous, ACS | Part 12236 |
Acetic Acid 1%, Aqueous | Part 10012 |
For storage requirements and expiration date refer to individual product labels.
APPLICATION:
Newcomer Supply May-Grunwald Giemsa (MGG) Stain procedure for paraffin sections, is used for differential staining of hematopoietic tissue as well as demonstration of some microorganisms.
Jenner Stock Stain combines eosin and methylene blue, while the Giemsa Stock Stain, Wolbach is a mixture of methylene blue, eosin and Azure B. Combining Jenner Stain and Giemsa Stain, Wolbach together into the MGG procedure, provides for intense colorization results.
METHOD:
Fixation: Recommended for hematopoietic tissue
Technique: Paraffin sections cut at 4 microns
Solutions: All solutions are manufactured by Newcomer Supply, Inc.
All Newcomer Supply stain procedures are designed to be used with Coplin jars filled to 40 ml following the provided staining procedure.
STAINING PROCEDURE:
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- Deparaffinize sections thoroughly in three changes of xylene, 3 minutes each. Hydrate through two changes each of 100% and 95% ethyl alcohols, 10 dips each. Wash well with distilled water.
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- See Procedure Notes #1 and #2.
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- Rinse in two changes of Methanol (Part 12236); 3 minutes each.
- Prepare fresh Working Jenner Stain prior to use; combine, mix well.
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- Jenner Stock Stain 20 ml
- Distilled Water 20 ml
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- Place slides in fresh Working Jenner Stain for 6 minutes.
- Prepare fresh Working Giemsa Stain; combine, mix well.
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- Giemsa Stock Stain, Wolbach 3 ml
- Distilled Water 47 ml
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- Place slides, without rinsing, directly from Working Jenner Stain into fresh Working Giemsa Stain for 45 minutes.
- Rinse quickly in distilled water.
- Differentiate each slide individually in Acetic Acid 1%, Aqueous (Part 10012); 6-10 dips.
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- Check microscopically for well differentiated nuclei.
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- Rinse in distilled water.
- Dehydrate in two changes each of 95% and 100% ethyl alcohol. Clear in three changes of xylene, 10 dips each; coverslip with compatible mounting medium.
- Deparaffinize sections thoroughly in three changes of xylene, 3 minutes each. Hydrate through two changes each of 100% and 95% ethyl alcohols, 10 dips each. Wash well with distilled water.
RESULTS:
Nuclei | Blue/violet |
Cytoplasm | Pink/rose to lighter blue shades |
Bacteria | Blue |
PROCEDURE NOTES:
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- Drain slides after each step to prevent solution carry over.
- Do not allow sections to dry out at any point during procedure.
- The color range of the stained cells will vary depending upon fixation and degree of differentiation.
- If using a xylene substitute, follow manufacturer’s recommendation for deparaffinization and clearing steps.
REFERENCES:
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- Carson, Freida L. and Christa Hladik Cappellano. Histotechnology: A Self-instructional Text. 4th ed. Chicago: ASCP Press, 2015. 130-131.
- Luna, Lee G. Manual of Histologic Staining Methods of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. 3rd ed. New York: Blakiston Division, McGraw-Hill, 1968. 121-122.
- Shapiro, Stanley H. and Hilda Laufer. “Observations on Fixation and Staining of Bone Marrow Biopsies.” The Journal of Histotechnology 11.3 (1988): 145-47.
- Sheehan, Dezna C. and Barbara B. Hrapchak. Theory and Practice of Histotechnology. 2nd ed. St. Louis: Mosby, 1980. 157.
- Modifications developed by Newcomer Supply Laboratory.
Tech Memo 2: May-Grunwald Giemsa Stain for Smears
SOLUTIONS:
500 ml | 1 Liter | |
Jenner Stock Stain | Part 1210A | Part 1210B |
Giemsa Stock Stain, Wolbach | Part 1121A | Part 1121B |
Additionally Needed:
Alcohol, Methanol Anhydrous, ACS | Part 12236 |
For storage requirements and expiration date refer to individual bottle labels.
APPLICATION:
Newcomer Supply May-Grunwald Giemsa (MGG) Stain procedure for smears, is used for differential staining and morphological inspection of peripheral blood smears and bone marrow smears/films.
Jenner Stock Stain combines eosin and methylene blue, while the Giemsa Stock Stain, Wolbach is a mixture of methylene blue, eosin and Azure B. Combining Jenner Stain and Giemsa Stain, Wolbach together into the MGG procedure, provides for intense colorization results.
METHOD:
Technique: Coplin jar or flat staining rack method
Solutions: All solutions are manufactured by Newcomer Supply, Inc.
STAINING PROCEDURE:
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- Prepare a well-made blood smear or bone marrow smear/film with a focus on uniform cell distribution.
- Allow smears to thoroughly air-dry prior to staining.
- Fix smears by flooding slides with Methanol (Part 12236) for 10-30 seconds.
- Prepare fresh Working Jenner Stain prior to use; combine, mix well.
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- Jenner Stock Stain 20 ml
- Distilled Water 20 ml
- Or prepare lesser volumes as needed.
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- Place slides in fresh Working Jenner Stain for 5-6 minutes.
- Prepare fresh Working Giemsa Stain prior; combine, mix well.
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- Giemsa Stock Stain, Wolbach 5 ml
- Distilled Water 45 ml
- Or prepare lesser volumes as needed.
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- Place slides, without rinsing, directly from Working Jenner Stain into fresh Working Giemsa Stain for 30 minutes.
- Rinse smears well in distilled water to completely differentiate.
- Air-dry slides vertically; examine microscopically.
RESULTS:
Erythrocytes | Light pink to light purple |
Platelets | Granules – Reddish purple |
Lymphocytes/monocytes | Nuclei – Dark purple |
Cytoplasm – Sky blue | |
Neutrophils | Nuclei – Dark blue |
Granules – Reddish purple | |
Cytoplasm – Pale pink | |
Eosinophils | Nuclei – Blue |
Granules – Red/orange red | |
Cytoplasm – Blue | |
Basophils | Nuclei – Dark blue |
Granules – Purple |
PROCEDURE NOTES:
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- Timings are suggested ranges. Optimal staining times will depend upon staining intensity preference.
- Drain slides after each step to prevent solution carry over.
REFERENCES:
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- Carson, Freida L. and Christa Hladik Cappellano. Histotechnology: A Self-instructional Text. 4th ed. Chicago: ASCP Press, 2015. 130-131.
- McPherson, Richard and Matthew Pincus. Henry’s Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 22nd ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders, 2011. 522-531.
- Sheehan, Dezna C. and Barbara B. Hrapchak. Theory and Practice of Histotechnology. 2nd ed. St. Louis: Mosby, 1980. 157.
- Modifications developed by Newcomer Supply Laboratory.