Hi, all.

I was doing an MGG stain on a BMA specimen when I was alerted by the haematologists of unsatisfactory staining.

This is a picture taken straight off an eyepiece of the microscope.

It appears that for cells along the lymphoid and/or erythroid lineage, there is an artefactual precipitation of stain on the nuclear membrane. Therefore, the haematologists are unable to convince themselves of the identity of the cells in this picture.

I didn't read up on staining and so I had to follow the staining procedures strictly.

What do you guys think might have happened that led to this?

I'll be experimenting if it is due to the slides drying very slowly before I fixed it with methanol.

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Looks to me like the slides were stained while they were still damp. How long were the slides left to dry before staining. I've always recommended 30 minutes minimum (in my cell path days)

So sorry for the late reply!

Some of my seniors have ruled that as a possibility.

How did you reach that conclusion? Or was it mentioned in textbooks about it?

I agree with Auntie-D and your seniors on this, the slide hasn't properly dried prior to fixation. Bone marrow aspirates should be left to dry for at least an hour, the same with thick films for malarial parasites. The conclusion is reached through experience, the longer the drying the better.

Steve

Thanks all very much!

I shall bear that in mind when I next do a BMA.