Field stain is a
histological
Histology,
also known as microscopic anatomy or microanatomy, is the branch of biology that studies the microscopic anatomy of biological tissue (biology), tissues. Histology is the microscopic counterpart to gross anatomy, which looks at large ...
method for
staining
Staining is a technique used to enhance contrast in samples, generally at the Microscope, microscopic level. Stains and dyes are frequently used in histology (microscopic study of biological tissue (biology), tissues), in cytology (microscopic ...
of
blood smear
A blood smear, peripheral blood smear or blood film is a thin layer of blood smeared on a glass microscope slide and then stained in such a way as to allow the various blood cells to be examined microscopically. Blood smears are examined in the i ...
s. It is used for staining thick blood films in order to discover
malaria
Malaria is a Mosquito-borne disease, mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects vertebrates and ''Anopheles'' mosquitoes. Human malaria causes Signs and symptoms, symptoms that typically include fever, Fatigue (medical), fatigue, vomitin ...
l parasites. Field's stain is a version of a
Romanowsky stain
Romanowsky staining is a prototypical staining technique that was the forerunner of several distinct but similar stains widely used in hematology (the study of blood) and cytopathology (the study of diseased cells). Romanowsky-type stains are use ...
, used for rapid processing of the specimens.
[
]
Field's stain consists of two parts - Field's stain A is
methylene blue
Methylthioninium chloride, commonly called methylene blue, is a salt used as a dye and as a medication. As a medication, it is mainly used to treat methemoglobinemia. It has previously been used for treating cyanide poisoning and urinary trac ...
and
Azure 1 dissolved in
phosphate
Phosphates are the naturally occurring form of the element phosphorus.
In chemistry, a phosphate is an anion, salt, functional group or ester derived from a phosphoric acid. It most commonly means orthophosphate, a derivative of orthop ...
buffer solution
A buffer solution is a solution where the pH does not change significantly on dilution or if an acid or base is added at constant temperature. Its pH changes very little when a small amount of strong acid or base is added to it. Buffer solution ...
; Field's stain B is
Eosin Y
Eosin Y, also called C.I. 45380 or C.I. Acid Red 87, is a member of the triarylmethane dyes. It is produced from fluorescein by bromination.
Use
Eosin Y is commonly used as the red dye in red inks.
It is commonly used in histology, most nota ...
in buffer solution. Field stain is named after physician
John William Field, who developed it in 1941.
Additional images
Image:Colorectal adenocarcinoma cytology intermed mag.jpg, Colorectal adenocarcinoma. Field stain.
Image:Granuloma cytology.jpg, Granuloma. Field stain.
References
External links
Field stain recipe (thelabrat.com)
Histopathology
Staining
Romanowsky stains
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