Stain #7: Wright-Giemsa 🔬 Purpose: Blood & tissue parasites 🎯 Primary Use: Plasmodium, Babesia 👀 Results: • Parasites stain purple/blue What learners see: Blood cells with intracellular parasites (e.g., Plasmodium) 📝 ASCP Tip: Blood parasites → Wright-Giemsa

Stain #6: Trichrome Stain 🔬 Purpose: Identify intestinal protozoa 🎯 Primary Use: Stool O&P exams 👀 Results: • Protozoa cytoplasm = blue-green • Nuclei = red/purple ⚠️ Key Point: Preserved stool required 📝 ASCP Tip: Parasites = Trichrome What you see: Blue-green cytoplasm with red nuclei in protozoa

Stain #5: Calcofluor White 🔬 Purpose: Detect fungi 🎯 Primary Use: Yeasts & molds 🧪 Principle: Binds to chitin and cellulose 👀 Results: - Fungal elements fluoresce bright blue-white 📝 ASCP Tip: UV light + fungi = Calcofluor

Stain #4: India Ink 🔬 Purpose: Detect encapsulated organisms 🎯 Primary Use: Cryptococcus neoformans (CSF) 🧪 Principle: Capsule excludes ink 👀 Results: - Clear halo around yeast cell ⚠️ Limitation: Low sensitivity 📝 ASCP Tip: India Ink + CSF = Crypto

Stain: Modified Acid-Fast 🔬 Purpose: Detect weakly acid-fast organisms 🎯 Primary Use: Nocardia, Cyclospora, Isospora 🧪 Difference: Weaker acid used for decolorization 👀 Results: - Positive organisms = red - Background = blue 📝 ASCP Tip: If it’s not quite acid-fast → think Modified