Giemsa stain Recipe

Stock solution

1. Dissolve 3.8g of Giemsa powder into 250ml of methanol
2. Heat the solution from step 1 to ~60^oC
3. Slowly add in 250ml of glycerin to the solution from step 2
4. Filter the solution from step 3
5. The solution needs to stand a period of time prior to use. Although times vary based on who you ask a minimum of two months is usually recomended

Working solution

1. Add 10ml of stock solution to 80ml of distilled water and 10ml of methanol

Giemsa stain is used on blood and bone marrow. Giemsa stain results in erythrocytes staining pink, platelets a very light pink, leukocyte nuclear chromatin stains magenta, monocyte cytoplasm stains pale blue and lymphocyte cytoplasm stains sky blue.