Field stain

Field stain is a histological method for staining of microscopic specimens. It is a type of Romanowsky stain, and is used primarily for the microscopic examination of blood smears. The stain was developed by Maximilian Field, a British physician, in the early 20th century.

History

Field stain was developed by Maximilian Field, a British physician, in the early 20th century. It is a modification of the Romanowsky stain, which was first described in the late 19th century. Field's modification was intended to simplify the staining process and improve the quality of the stained specimens.

Method

Field stain is a two-step process. The first step involves staining the specimen with Field's stain A, which is a mixture of methylene blue and eosin. The second step involves staining with Field's stain B, which is a mixture of azure B and eosin.

The specimen is first fixed with methanol, then stained with Field's stain A for one minute. It is then rinsed with water, stained with Field's stain B for one minute, and again rinsed with water. The stained specimen is then examined under a microscope.

Applications

Field stain is primarily used for the staining of blood smears. It allows for the differentiation of the various types of white blood cells, and can also be used to identify parasites in the blood, such as malaria parasites.

Advantages and Disadvantages

The main advantage of Field stain is its simplicity and speed. The staining process can be completed in just a few minutes, which is much faster than many other staining methods. However, Field stain is not as sensitive as some other stains, and may not detect certain types of cells or parasites.

See Also

• Romanowsky stain
• Methylene blue
• Eosin
• Azure B
• Blood smear
• White blood cells
• Malaria

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