what is the Pap stain used for?
to differentiate cells in smear preparations of various bodily secretions
what types of specimens do you get for
... [Show More] the Pap stain?
- gynecological smears (Pap smears)
- sputum
- brushings
- washings
- urine
- CSF
- abdominal, pleural, synovial fluid
- seminal fluid
- find needle aspiration
- tumor touch samples
- others containing cells
what does the Pap stain offer and NOT offer?
- provides good visualization of cell morphology for cell health
- for disease progression
- not specific for any type of malignancy
what is the actual name for the Pap stain?
Papanicolaou stain
how many different solutions with how many dyes?
3 diff solutions made up of 5 dyes
what technique is the Pap stain?
polychromatic staining technique
what is the nuclear stain in the Pap stain?
hematoxylin
what is the 1st counterstain that stains keratinized cells?
OG-6 (contains orange G)
what is the 2nd counterstain that differentiates the cytoplasm of the cells?
EA: contains
- light green SF yellowish
- eosin Y
- Bismarck brown
what is the mordant used for both counterstains in the Pap stain?
phosphotungstic acid
what does a mordant do?
helps dye attach
active cells stain
shades of BLUE
INactive cells stain
shades of pINk
characteristics of WELL-stained Pap smear
- transparent cells (able to see underlying cells)
- variety of colors of cytoplasm = activity and health status of the cell
- crisp distinct chromatin patterns
Hematoxylin
- Harris or Gill's
- stain the nucleus (crisp and distinct nuclear detail)
- evaluation: nucleus of an intermediate squamous cell, polymorphnuclear leukocyte
evaluation of the quality of the hematoxylin stain
well defined granular intranuclear detail in the nucleus of an intermediate sq cell, visible detail of threads between lobes in the nucleus
OG-6
- 1st counterstain
- alcoholic solution of orange G
- phosphotungstic acid used as a mordant
- stains keratin bright orange
- for distinguishing keratinized neoplasms (keratin usually normally not seen in healthy pt)
- glacial acetic acid: added to enhance specificity and decrease staining time
EA
- polychrome dye: eosin Y, light green SF yellowish, Bismarck brown
- phosphotungstic acid (dye excluder: allows eosin and light green to stain differently)
- stains cytoplasm
(inactive cells=pink, active cells=blue-green)
- diff penetration and rinse times for diff stains (ex. eosin Y rinses faster than light green)
staining in EA for too LITTLE time =
falsely eosinophilic cells because eosin Y penetrates cells faster than light green SF yellowish!!!!! [Show Less]