Diff-Quik

It is most frequently used for blood films and cytopathological smears, including fine needle aspirates.

Diff-Quik may be utilized on material which is air-dried prior to alcohol fixation rather than immersed immediately (i.e. "wet-fixed"), although immediate alcohol fixation results in improved microscopic detail.

Diff-Quik stain highlights cytoplasmic elements such as mucins, fat droplets and neurosecretory granules.

Major applications include blood smears, bone marrow aspirates, semen analysis and cytology of various body fluids including urine and cerebrospinal fluid.

This staining technique allows the cytotechnologist or pathologist to quickly assess the adequacy of the specimen, identify possible neoplastic or inflammatory changes, and decide whether or not additional staining is required.