Comparative Study of Conventional Staining Techniques in Cytology

Background: Exfoliative cytology is the histopathologic examination of cells that have been obtained by their physical removal, followed by their placement on a glass slide, and then appropriately stained [1].The aim of this study was to compare the staining of cytologic Papanicolaou stain, hematoxylin andeosin stain, and may-grunwald-giemsa stain in oral mucosa smear. Materials and Methods: A total of 150 Cytological oral smears were taken from 50 volunteers using a sterile wooden tongue depressor. In each case, the surface epithelium of the buccal mucosa was scraped and applied to a clean frosted glass slide. The scraped cells were placed onto pre-cleaned slides. three slides were made from each subject. One was air-dried and stained with the (MGG) stain, while the other was wet fixed and stained with PAP and H and E. Results: The nuclear structure was excellent stained with Pap and H and E and was poor with MMG representing 88%, 80, and 5% respectively while the cytoplasm and background were excellent stained with Giemsa representing 80% and 60% and respectively. Conclusion: Pap-stained smears were better than H and E and Grunwald- Giemsa stain for oral cytology.