Giemsa Stain 50 FAQs and 30 MCQs
Giemsa Stain 50 FAQs
What is Giemsa stain?
Giemsa stain is a differential staining technique used to examine blood for parasites, differentiate blood cells, and identify cellular structures.
Who developed Giemsa stain?
It was named after a German chemist who used a combination of reagents to demonstrate malaria parasites.
What type of stain is Giemsa?
It belongs to the Romanowsky group of stains.
What are Romanowsky stains?
They are neutral stains made of oxidized methylene blue, azure, and Eosin Y, used for cell differentiation and pathological examinations.
What are the types of Romanowsky stains?
Giemsa, Jenner, Wright, May-Grunwald, and Leishman stains.
What is the principle of Giemsa stain?
It uses acidic (Eosin) and basic (Azure, Methylene blue) dyes to stain acidic nuclei blue-purple and alkaline cytoplasm red.
What is the pH required for Giemsa stain?
The stain must be buffered to pH 6.8 or 7.2.
What are the applications of Giemsa stain?
It is used for diagnosing malaria, blood parasites, chromosomal analysis (G-banding), and histopathological studies.
What is Giemsa banding (G-banding)?
A technique to stain chromosomes for identifying chromosomal anomalies.
What organisms can Giemsa stain identify?
Malaria parasites, Chlamydia, Borrelia, Yersinia pestis, Histoplasma, and Pneumocystis jiroveci.
What reagents are used in Giemsa stain?
Methanol, Giemsa powder, glycerin, and buffered water.
How is Giemsa stock solution prepared?
Dissolve 3.8g Giemsa powder in 250ml methanol, heat to 60°C, add 250ml glycerin, filter, and let it stand for 1-2 months.
How is the working solution prepared?
Mix 10ml stock solution with 80ml distilled water and 10ml methanol.
What is the difference between 10% and 3% Giemsa working solutions?
10% is for rapid staining, while 3% is for slow staining of large batches.
Why is buffered water used in Giemsa stain?
To maintain the pH at 7.2 for optimal staining.
How long can the working solution be used?
It should be used within 15 minutes of preparation.
Why is Giemsa stock solution filtered before use?
To remove impurities and ensure consistent staining.
What is the role of methanol in Giemsa stain?
It fixes the blood smear to the slide.
What is the purpose of glycerin in Giemsa stain?
It acts as a stabilizer and solvent for the stain.
Can Giemsa stain be reused?
No, it should be discarded after use to avoid poor staining results.
How is a thin blood film stained with Giemsa?
Fix with methanol, flood with 5% Giemsa stain for 20-30 minutes, rinse, and dry.
How is a thick blood film stained with Giemsa?
Air dry for 1 hour, dip in diluted Giemsa stain, wash with buffered water, and dry.
What is the difference between thin and thick film staining?
Thin films are fixed with methanol, while thick films are not.
How long does Giemsa staining take?
Thin films: 20-30 minutes; thick films: 45-60 minutes.
What is the purpose of Triton X-100 in staining?
It helps in the even distribution of the stain.
How are slides rinsed after staining?
Thin smears are dipped 3-4 times in buffer, while thick smears are left in buffer for 5 minutes.
Why are duplicate smears left unstained?
They serve as backups if staining fails or for reference laboratory use.
What is the role of a positive control smear?
It ensures the staining procedure is effective and consistent.
How is a positive control smear prepared?
Use a patient’s blood with visible parasites, fix with methanol, and store at -70°C.
What is the purpose of shaking the stock solution daily?
To ensure proper mixing and dissolution of the stain.
What color do erythrocytes appear after Giemsa staining?
Pink.
What color is the nucleus of blood cells after staining?
Blue-purple.
What color is the cytoplasm of blood cells after staining?
Red or pink.
How do eosinophils appear under Giemsa stain?
Blue-purple nucleus, pale pink cytoplasm, and orange-red granules.
How do neutrophils appear under Giemsa stain?
Purple-red nucleus and pink cytoplasm.
How do basophils appear under Giemsa stain?
Purple nucleus and bluish granules.
How do lymphocytes appear under Giemsa stain?
Dark blue nucleus and light blue cytoplasm.
How do monocytes appear under Giemsa stain?
Purple nucleus and pink cytoplasm.
How do platelets appear under Giemsa stain?
Purple granules.
What does poor staining indicate?
Improper pH, old stain, or contamination.
What are the safety precautions for using methanol?
Avoid inhalation or contact; store in a locked cupboard.
What personal protective equipment is required?
Gloves, safety glasses, and a lab coat.
Why is Giemsa stain stored in a brown bottle?
To protect it from light degradation.
How is the quality of Giemsa stain ensured?
By using freshly prepared solutions and positive control smears.
What is the shelf life of Giemsa stock solution?
Indefinite if stored tightly sealed and moisture-free.
What causes iridescent scum on Giemsa stain?
Absorption of water vapor from the air.
Why should Giemsa stain not be reused?
It loses staining properties and can cause poor results.
What is the role of buffer tablets in Giemsa staining?
To maintain the pH of the buffered water.
How is the volume of Giemsa stain calculated for multiple slides?
Based on the number of slides and the required volume per slide.
What is the purpose of Whatman filter paper in Giemsa staining?
To filter the stock solution and remove impurities.
Giemsa Stain 30 MCQs
- What type of stain is Giemsa?
a) Acidic stain
b) Basic stain
c) Neutral stain (Romanowsky stain)
d) Fluorescent stain - Who developed Giemsa stain?
a) Louis Pasteur
b) A German chemist
c) Robert Koch
d) Alexander Fleming - What is the primary use of Giemsa stain?
a) Staining plant cells
b) Diagnosing malaria and blood parasites
c) Staining fungal hyphae
d) Identifying viruses - Which of the following is NOT a Romanowsky stain?
a) Wright stain
b) Gram stain
c) Giemsa stain
d) Leishman stain - What is the pH required for Giemsa staining?
a) 5.0
b) 6.8 or 7.2
c) 8.0
d) 9.5
- Which reagent is used to fix the blood smear in Giemsa staining?
a) Glycerin
b) Methanol
c) Eosin
d) Azure - What is the role of glycerin in Giemsa stain?
a) Fixative
b) Stabilizer and solvent
c) Buffer
d) Decolorizer - How long should Giemsa stock solution stand before use?
a) 1-2 days
b) 1-2 weeks
c) 1-2 months
d) 6 months - What is the concentration of the working solution for rapid staining?
a) 3%
b) 5%
c) 10%
d) 20% - Why is buffered water used in Giemsa staining?
a) To increase the pH
b) To maintain the pH at 7.2
c) To decrease the pH
d) To act as a fixative
- How long is a thin blood film stained with Giemsa?
a) 5-10 minutes
b) 20-30 minutes
c) 45-60 minutes
d) 2 hours - What is the purpose of Triton X-100 in Giemsa staining?
a) To fix the smear
b) To evenly distribute the stain
c) To act as a buffer
d) To decolorize the slide - How are thick smears rinsed after staining?
a) Dipped 3-4 times in buffer
b) Left in buffer for 5 minutes
c) Washed with tap water
d) Rinsed with methanol - What is the purpose of leaving duplicate smears unstained?
a) To save staining reagents
b) To serve as backups or for reference labs
c) To reduce staining time
d) To avoid contamination - What is the role of a positive control smear?
a) To test the pH of the stain
b) To ensure proper staining results
c) To fix the smear
d) To dilute the stain
- What color do erythrocytes appear after Giemsa staining?
a) Blue
b) Pink
c) Purple
d) Green - What color is the nucleus of blood cells after Giemsa staining?
a) Red
b) Blue-purple
c) Pink
d) Orange - How do eosinophils appear under Giemsa stain?
a) Blue-purple nucleus and orange-red granules
b) Purple nucleus and pink cytoplasm
c) Dark blue nucleus and light blue cytoplasm
d) Purple granules - How do neutrophils appear under Giemsa stain?
a) Purple-red nucleus and pink cytoplasm
b) Blue-purple nucleus and orange-red granules
c) Dark blue nucleus and light blue cytoplasm
d) Purple granules - What color do platelets appear after Giemsa staining?
a) Pink
b) Purple granules
c) Blue
d) Red
- What is the primary hazard of methanol in Giemsa staining?
a) It is flammable and toxic
b) It is radioactive
c) It is corrosive
d) It is explosive - What personal protective equipment is required for Giemsa staining?
a) Gloves, safety glasses, and lab coat
b) Face shield and apron
c) Respirator and boots
d) No special equipment is needed - Why is Giemsa stain stored in a brown bottle?
a) To protect it from light degradation
b) To keep it sterile
c) To maintain its pH
d) To prevent evaporation - What causes iridescent scum on Giemsa stain?
a) Absorption of water vapor
b) Contamination with bacteria
c) Improper filtration
d) High pH - What is the shelf life of Giemsa stock solution?
a) 1 week
b) 1 month
c) 6 months
d) Indefinite if stored properly
- What is Giemsa banding (G-banding) used for?
a) Staining bacteria
b) Identifying chromosomal anomalies
c) Diagnosing fungal infections
d) Staining viral particles - Which organism can Giemsa stain NOT identify?
a) Malaria parasites
b) Chlamydia trachomatis
c) Escherichia coli
d) Histoplasma spp. - What is the purpose of Giemsa stain in histopathology?
a) To stain plant tissues
b) To identify blood parasites and cellular structures
c) To detect viruses
d) To stain fungal hyphae - What is the role of Giemsa stain in Wolbach’s tissue staining?
a) To stain hematopoietic tissue
b) To stain plant roots
c) To identify viruses
d) To detect fungal spores - What is the primary advantage of using Wright-Giemsa stain?
a) It is faster than Giemsa stain
b) It is cheaper
c) It provides better results for blood parasites
d) It does not require buffering
