May-Grünwald-Giemsa stain (MGG)

Abstract:
May-Grünwald-Giemsa staining is the stain usually employed for blood and bone marrow films. It consists of a mixture of methylene blue (which dyes acidic cell components blue), azure (which dyes basic cell components red and violet) and eosin (which dyes alkaline cell components orange-red). Since all cell components are stained, this stain is also referred to as panoptic. Since the pH-value is important for stain properties, a pH shift of the solution leads to an incorrect stain reaction. The optimal pH range is from 6.5-6.8.

Assessment:
In May Grünwald Giemsa stains residual RNA, cytoplasm and nucleoli are blue, DNA and primary granula red and violet as well as hemoglobin and eosinophilic granula are orange-red.

Indication:
All blood and bone marrow films.