Comparison of histologic stains in the diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate commonly used histologic stains used to detect Pneumocystis, including Diff-Quik (DQ), Grocott's Gomori methenamine silver (GMS), Papanicolaou, and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E).


METHODS
The study compared the ability of these stains to detect alveolar casts.


RESULTS
Although there was a slightly higher average number of casts detected with DQ, the difference between this stain and GMS was not significant. Both Papanicolaou stain and H&E showed significantly lower averages. Some differences in H&E may be related to differences in preparation.


CONCLUSIONS
Similar results were obtained with DQ and GMS, but DQ offered the advantage of ease of preparation, rapidity and cost-effectiveness.
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D004396:Coloring Agents; D006652:Histological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D011010:Pneumocystis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D013194:Staining and Labeling
D004396:Coloring Agents