Quantification of solution-free red blood cell staining by sorption kinetics of Romanowsky stains to agarose gels.

The imaging and quantification of stained red blood cells (RBCs) are important for identifying RBCs in hematology and for diagnosing diseased RBCs or parasites in cytopathology. Romanowsky staining has been used traditionally to produce hues in blood cells using a mixture of anionic eosin Y and cationic methylene blue and azure B. While Romanowsky stains have been widely used in cytopathology, end-users have experienced problems with varying results in staining due to the premature precipitation or evaporation of methanol, leading to the inherent inconsistency of solution-based Romanowsky staining.

Hydrogel-Based Stamping Technology for Solution-Free Blood Cell Staining.

An accurate microscopical analysis of blood smears requires a reproducible and convenient method of staining. Solution-based staining procedures can be cumbersome. Especially in low- and middle-income countries, the lack of skilled technicians and adequate laboratory facilities, as well as insufficient water and reagent quality, often become confounding factors.