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Article: Cytospin body fluids.(A Varied Range of Queries Challenges Experts)(staining (microscopy) techniques)(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- Medical Laboratory Observer
- Article date:
- March 1, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 Nelson Publishing. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Q In reviewing the CAP checklist for inspection, I noticed a section regarding use of a stain, crystal violet or methelene blue, as an alternate way to distinguish red cells from white cells. Is this performed on the hemocytometer, and is it necessary if you confirm your findings by making differentials using a cytospin?
A Methelene blue or crystal violet stains nuclei, which can help distinguish RBCs and WBCs. It can be helpful in obtaining total white cell count by hemocytometer, as long as the dilution factor is accounted for in the final calculation.
Even with a methelene blue-stained sample, however, a wet mount differential is unreliable. A ...