vérszínez

Vérszínez, or vérszínezés, refers to the laboratory practice of staining blood samples or blood smears to visualize cellular components under a light microscope. The technique uses dyes that differentially color elements such as erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets, and their internal structures, increasing contrast for morphological assessment.

Historically, many blood-staining methods derive from Romanowsky-type stains developed in the late 19th century, with Wright, Giemsa, and May-Grünwald–Giemsa variants becoming standard in clinical hematology. These stains produce a characteristic color balance that highlights nuclei, cytoplasm, and granules.

Procedure typically involves preparing a thin peripheral blood smear, fixing the slide (often with methanol), and applying a Romanowsky-type stain. After staining, slides are rinsed, dried, and examined under light microscopy. Staining times and dye formulations affect color balance and diagnostic clarity.

Interpretation emphasizes cell morphology: erythrocytes usually appear pink to salmon-colored; granulocytes show nuclei with distinct colors and cytoplasmic granules; lymphocytes and monocytes have characteristic cytoplasm and nuclear features. Abnormal red blood cell shapes or sizes, as well as platelet morphology, can indicate pathology.

Applications include differential white blood cell counts, assessment of blood and bone marrow samples for morphological abnormalities, and screening for parasitic infections such as malaria on blood smears. Variants and related methods include Wright stain, Giemsa stain, Wright–Giemsa, and May-Grünwald stains; automated protocols also exist for standardization.

Safety and quality control are important due to exposure to fixatives and dyes; procedures require appropriate PPE, ventilation, and routine use of control slides and standardized protocols.