A properly stained blood film is critical for malaria diagnosis, especially for precise identification of malaria species. Use of Giemsa stain is the recommended and most reliable procedure for staining thick and thin blood films. Giemsa solution is composed of eosin and methylene blue (azure).
The JSB stain consists of two solutions which are used in sequence to stain various parts of the sample. The first solution consists of methylene blue, potassium dichromate, and sulfuric acid diluted in water.
The Giemsa stain is used as the gold standard for the diagnosis of malaria on blood smears. The classical staining procedure requires between 30 and 45 min.
The JSB stain consists of two solutions which are used in sequence to stain various parts of the sample. The first solution consists of methylene blue, potassium dichromate, and sulfuric acid diluted in water. This solution is heated for several hours to oxidize the methylene blue.
