The main difference between Giemsa stain and Wright stain is that Giemsa stain is used to stain chromosomes to identify chromosome aberrations. But, Wright stain is used to differentiate blood cell types. Furthermore, Giemsa stain composes of a mixture of Azure B, methylene blue, and eosin dye, while Wright stain composes of a mixture of eosin and methylene blue dyes.
In brief, Giemsa stain and Wright stain are two types of differential stains mainly used in the differential staining of blood smears. Moreover, both stains are types of Romanowsky stains, which are neutral stains, composing of a mixture of oxidized methylene blue (azure) dyes and Eosin Y.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is Giemsa Stain
– Definition, Components, Staining
2. What is Wright Stain
– Definition, Components, Staining
3. What are the Similarities Between Giemsa Stain and Wright Stain
– Outline of Common Features
4. What is the Difference Between Giemsa Stain and Wright Stain
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Eosin, Giemsa Stain, Methylene Blue, Wrist Stain 
What is Giemsa Stain
Giemsa stain is a form of Romanowsky stain, named after the German chemist Gustav Giemsa. Primarily, it is employed in the demonstration of malarial parasites in blood smears. Generally, malaria parasites have a red or pink nucleus and blue cytoplasm with Giemsa stain. Specifically, P. vivax shows Schüffner dots are seen as an even carpet of pink dots in the cytoplasm of red blood cells. Meanwhile, P. falciparum shows unevenly distributed Maurer clefts and coarse bodies in the red cell cytoplasm.
Figure 1: Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Giemsa stain
Besides, Giemsa stain composes of a mixture of Azure B, Methylene blue, and Eosin dye. Of these, Azure B and eosin are acidic dyes while methylene blue is the basic dye. The acidic dyes stain basic components of the cell such as cytoplasm and cell granules in pale colors. Meanwhile, basic dyes stain acidic components of the cell such as the nucleus in dark purple or blue.
Moreover, concerning its applications, in histology, it is important for the routine examination of blood smear. Additionally, in cytogenetics, it is important in staining chromosomes and identifying chromosomal aberrations through G-banding (Giemsa-Banding).
What is Wright Stain
Wrist stain is another type of Romanowsky stain, named after James Homer Wright. It is important in staining peripheral blood smears, urine samples, and bone marrow aspirates. It is widely applicable in differential white blood cell counts as Wrist stain easily distinguishes between blood cells. Furthermore, the main components of the Wrist stain are methylene blue and eosin.
Figure 2: Eosinophils in Peripheral Blood Smear
Moreover, another related form of Romanowsky stain is the buffered Wright stain or the Wright-Giemsa stain, which is a combination of Wright and Giemsa stains. Typically, the buffered Wright-Giemsa stain include eosin Y, azure B, and methylene blue. Thus, this stain increases the brightness of the “reddish-purple” color of the cytoplasmic granules.
Similarities Between Giemsa Stain and Wright Stain
- Giemsa stain and Wright stain are two types of differential stains important in coloring different cell types.
- They compose of eosin, an acidic dye, staining basic components of the cell and methylene blue, the basic dye, staining acidic components.
- Further, both stains color basic components cytoplasm and granules in pale pink or blue and acidic components such as the nucleus in dark blue or purple. Also, they stain red blood cells in pink color.
- The common types of cells stained using these stains are blood cells.
- Apart from that, they are important in other applications of cytogenetics.
Difference Between Giemsa Stain and Wright Stain
Definition
Giemsa stain refers to a stain, named after a German scientist, Gustav Giemsa. It is important in cytogenetics and histopathological diagnosis of malaria and other parasites. Meanwhile, Wright stain refers to a hematologic stain, facilitating the differentiation of blood cell types.
Named after
Giemsa stain was named after Gustav Giemsa, while Wrist stain was named after James Homer Wrist.
Composes of
Giemsa stain composes of a mixture of Azure B, methylene blue, and eosin dye, while Wright stain composes of a mixture of eosin and methylene blue dyes.
Smears
Giemsa stain uses both thick and thin smears, but the Wright stain uses only thin smears.
Staining
Giemsa stain colors erythrocytes in pink, platelets in light pale pink, lymphocyte cytoplasm in sky blue, monocyte cytoplasm in pale blue, and leukocyte nuclear chromatin in magenta. In contrast, Wright stain colors erythrocytes in red to pink, neutrophils in dark purple nuclei, pale pink cytoplasm, reddish-lilac small granules, eosinophils in blue nuclei, pale pink cytoplasm, red to orange-red large granules, basophils purple to the dark blue nucleus, dark purple, almost black large granules, lymphocytes dark purple to deep bluish-purple nuclei, sky blue cytoplasm, platelets in violet to purple granules.
Importance
Giemsa stain is important in staining chromosomes to identify chromosome aberrations, while Wright stain is important to differentiate blood cell types.
Conclusion
Giemsa stain is a type of differential stain, especially important in identifying chromosome aberrations in cytogenetics. It was named after Gustav Giemsa, and it contains a mixture of Azure B, methylene blue, and eosin. Meanwhile, Wright stain is another type of differential stain, named after James Homer Wrist. But, this stain only contains a mixture of methylene blue and eosin. It is important for differentiating blood cells. Therefore, the main difference between the Giemsa stain and Wright stain is their components and importance.
References:
1. Rijal, Nisha. “Giemsa Stain: Principle, Procedure and Results.” Learn Microbiology Online, 26 Aug. 2019, Available Here.
2. “Wright’s Stain.” HiMedia Laboratories. Available Here.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Eosinophils in Peripheral Blood Smear” By Ed Uthman (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr
2. “Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma, FNA, Giemsa stain” By Ed Uthman (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr
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