In which special cytochemical stain are homogeneously pink cells counted as positive?

The Kleihauer-Betke stain is a specialized cytochemical stain specifically used to identify fetal hemoglobin (HbF) in the presence of adult hemoglobin (HbA). In this staining technique, fetal red blood cells appear a homogenous pink while adult red blood cells will not take on the same coloration and are thus identified differently. This staining method is particularly important in the evaluation of fetal-maternal hemorrhage and in quantifying the extent of such hemorrhage.

When interpreting the results of a Kleihauer-Betke stain, the number of homogeneously pink cells is counted to assess the proportion of fetal red blood cells. This characteristic coloration is a specific indicator of the fetal cells' presence and assists in clinical decisions regarding the management of maternal hemorrhage or Rh immunization.

Understanding that the other stains serve different purposes highlights the unique applicability of the Kleihauer-Betke method in maternal-fetal medicine. For example, Wright's stain is typically used for blood films and does not specifically identify fetal cells, while the Oil Red O stain is used for detecting lipids in tissue sections, and Perls' Prussian blue stain is primarily for iron detection in tissues. Each stain has its distinct use cases, emphasizing the specificity