Stains

play a crucial role in hematological and cytological analyses, aiding in cell differentiation and parasite detection = Romanowski stains Provides valuable information about nuclear and cytoplasmic components = Wright and Wright-Giemsa stain Allows for selective increased staining of eosinophilic or basophilic components (depending on how long the smear is left in the staining solution) and reduces staining process time = Diff quick Supravital stain commonly used in laboratory settings = New Methylene Blue

Does not stain cytoplasm well, allowing for better visualization of nuclear features, even in clumped cells = New methylene blue NMB helps identify aggregate reticulocytes (erythrocyte ghosts containing blue to purple granular material) for reticulocyte count = Wet mount Useful for identifying reticulocytes, Heinz bodies (denatured hemoglobin), and platelets = Dry stain NMB complements romanowski type stains by enhancing nuclear detail while minimizing cytoplasmic staining = Adjunct to Romanowski stains

Used during direct fecal smear, helps identify giardia cysts (enhances internal structures) but kills giardia trophozoites = Lugols iodine Used to aid in the identification of fungal elements = Potassium Hydroxide KOH Detection of fat in feces or cytology = Sudan III Used to differentiate bacterial cells based on their cell wall characteristics = Gram stain

Retain the crystal violet-iodine complex and appear deep violet to blue under the microscope = Gram-positive stain Decolorized during the staining process and appear pink to red after counterstaining = Gram-negative stain Have thick peptidoglycan layer in the cell wall contributing to this staining = Gram-positive bacteria Have thinner cell wall and outer membrane = Gram-negative bacteria