Romanowskyféle

Romanowskyféle is the Hungarian term for the family of Romanowsky stains, a group of cytochemical methods widely employed in clinical pathology for staining blood and bone marrow smears. The technique was developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by the Russian pathologist Dmitri Romanovsky, who refined the original Russian stain to improve contrast and reproducibility. It typically employs a mixture of methylene blue, eosin, and a mild acid such as acetic acid or formaldehyde to create a high-contrast stain that differentiates cellular components such as nuclei, cytoplasm, and granules.

In practice, Romanowskyféle variants include May‑Grünwald‑Giemsa (MGG), Wright, Leishman, and Giemsa, each differing in the ratio of dyes and the fixation method. The stains are prized for their ability to highlight features of leukocytes, erythrocytes, and platelets, allowing pathologists to diagnose infections, hematologic malignancies, and nutritional deficiencies. Because the stains are relatively inexpensive and provide rapid results, they remain a staple in laboratories worldwide.

The Romanowsky family of stains has also been adapted for use in veterinary medicine and forensic science, especially for the identification of parasites in blood and tissue samples. Continued research into automated staining platforms seeks to improve consistency and reduce technician workload while preserving the characteristic color balance pioneered by Romanovsky. Through these innovations, Romanowskyféle remains a cornerstone of cytological diagnostics.