Agustin,
First try to ensure that the smears are thin and dried instantaneously - no slower. I always shake the slide in the air like fury, usually to the amusement of onlookers, but it is so essential. The speed of drying affects the staining enormously.

Terry L Marshall B.A.(Law), M.B.Ch.B., F.R.C.Path
Consultant Histopathologist
Rotherham General Hospital, Yorkshire
terry.marshall@rgh-tr.trent.nhs.uk

-----Original Message-----
From: Agustín Venzano [mailto:avenzano@cicv.inta.gov.ar]
Sent: 06 September 2002 15:17
To: Histonet Server
Subject: May-Grünwald-Giemsa


Histonetters: I've lately been having some problems with blood films
staining. Despite previously filtering all reagents and strictly following
the required steps the results were frustrating.

Leukocytes' nuclei often appeared faintly stained, and their cytoplasms'
aspect was variable. Sometimes they looked well colored, but often
cytoplasmic coloration resulted dull. Moreover, eosinophils didn't show
there red cytoplasmic granules, instead their cytoplasm appeared rather
basophilic.

Of course I decided to immediately dispose of MG and G solutions in use, but
now I need a wise advise of you veteran netters: Many precious foul-stained
slides should be re-stained rather than disposed of. What should I do in
order to:

1. Decolor these slides.
2. Restain them with my new MG and G reagents?

Thank you

Agustin Jose Venzano Halliburton
DVM, INTA, Argentina