MAY GRUNWALD GIEMSA.docx

mgg

1. MAY GRUNWALD GIEMSA (MGG) STAIN
PURPOSE: Cytological examination.
PRINCIPLE OF THE METHOD: May-Grunwald Giemsa (MGG) staining is a mixture of two nwutral stains:
- May-Grunwald stain composed of an acidic stain(eosin) and a basic stain (methylene blue)
- Giemsa stain composed of eosin and another metachromatic basic stain : azure of methylene
The first stain induces an orthochromatic staining on cell components (pink or orange dye for acidophilic
components and blue or purple for basophilic and neutral components). The second induces a
metachromatic staining: red dye for azurophilic components.
TYPE OF PRIMARY SAMPLE: Fine needle aspirate.
EQUIPMENT: Disposable 22G needle
Disposable 10ml plastic syringe with piston
Glass Slides
Cotton swab
Rectified spirit

REAGENT:
 May-Grunwald’s stain
 Giemsa stain
 Methanol
PREPARATION OF STAINS
May Grunwald Reagent: Working solution: Stock Solution 10ml + Distilled water 10ml (1:1)
Giemsa Soution: Working solution: Stock Solution 10ml + Distilled water 90ml (1:9)
STAINING PROCEDURE
 Fix air dried smears in methanol for 5 minutes
 Stain the fixed smears in May-Grunwald solution for 10 minutes
 Stain with Giemsa working solution for 15minutes
 Wash in running water
 Dry in air
 Clear in xylene and mount DPX with coverslip

2. QUALITY CONTROL PROCEDURE:
The detailed quality controlled procedure is mentioned in Chapter III.
LIMITATION:
 Needle has missed the target initially.
 Needle in central cystic/ necrotic/ haemorrhagic area devoid of diagnostic cells.
 Needle sampling a dominant benign mass but missing a small adjacent malignant lesion.
 Fibrotic/desmoplastic target tissue giving a scant cell yield.
RESULTS AND REPORTING:
Nuclei stain blue, cytoplasm stains pink to rose, and bacteria stain blue.
Pathologist checks the stained smears and interprets the results accordingly.
REPORTABLE INTERVAL OF EXAMINATION: Normal 12-24 hours (max. 4 days). Emergency 6-8hours.
SAFETY PRECAUTION: Detailed safety precautions in chapter IV.
RECORD MAINTAINENCE:
The slides are maintained in the section for 6months.
The reports are directly recorded in the worksheet register. The reporting register is retained in a file.
DOCUMENT REFERENCE:
1. Koss’ Diagnostic Cytology and its Histopathologic Bases, 5
th
edition.
2. Svante R. Orell, Gregory F. Sterrett, Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology, 5
th
edition.