Pap Smear · Pathology

Which stain is used in the Papanicolaou technique to provide the characteristic green/blue color to the cytoplasm of intermediate cells?

  1. Hematoxylin (Harris formula)
  2. Orange G (OG-6 formula)
  3. Light Green (EA-50 formula)
  4. Eosin Y (acidic counterstain)
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Correct answer: Light Green (EA-50 formula)

The Papanicolaou stain uses Hematoxylin for the nucleus and two counterstains for the cytoplasm: Orange G and Eosin Azure (EA). Light Green, a component of EA, stains the cytoplasm of metabolically active cells, such as intermediate and parabasal cells, green or blue.

Difficulty: Medium Question 6 of 20

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