Guidelines for May-Grünwald-Giemsa staining in haematology and non-gynaecological cytopathology: recommendations of the French Society of Clinical Cytology ( SFCC) and of the French Association for Quality Assurance in Anatomic and Cytologic Pathology ( AFAQAP)

Objective Since the guidelines of the International Committee for Standardisation in Haematology ( ICSH) in 1984 and those of the European Committee for External Quality Assessment Programmes in Laboratory Medicine ( EQALM) in 2004, no leading organisation has published technical recommendations for the preparation of air-dried cytological specimens using May-Grünwald-Giemsa ( MGG) staining. Data sources Literature data were retrieved using reference books, baseline-published studies, articles extracted from PubMed/Medline and Google Scholar, and online-available industry datasheets. Rationale The present review addresses all pre-analytical issues concerning the use of Romanowsky's stains (including MGG) in haematology and non-gynaecological cytopathology. It aims at serving as actualised, best practice recommendations for the proper handling of air-dried cytological specimens. It, therefore, appears complementary to the staining criteria of the non-gynaecological diagnostic cytology handbook edited by the United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Service ( UK- NEQAS) in February 2015. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]