Giemsa Staining Method

**Semantic type:** Laboratory Procedure

**Definition:** A microscopy staining method that utilizes Giemsa, a mixture of ethylene blue and eosin, which forms purplish-black crystals when dried. This stain preferentially binds to the phosphate groups of DNA and aggregates at areas with an increase in adenine-thymine binding, thus leading to chromosomal staining patterns that lend themselves to g-banding analysis. Additionally Giemsa can be used as a differential stain to determine microbial cell adherence to human cells as well as in the diagnosis of malaria, spirochete, and protozoal infections.

**Synonyms:** - GIEMSA STAIN