This is one of the most sensitive histochemical tests and will demonstrate even single granules of iron in blood cells.The iron staining procedure utilizes the Prussian Blue stain for ferric iron to assess bone marrow iron stores. This procedure is particularly helpful when evaluating patients with anemia, iron overload, myelodysplasia, etc. In the adult setting, it is commonly performed on the bone marrow biopsy, but can be requested on the aspirates as well.
Principle: Small amounts of ferric iron are found normally in bone marrow. The reaction occurs with the treatment with acid ferrocyanide solution. Any ferric ion (Fe3+) in the tissue combines with ferrocyanide and results in the formaion of a bright blue pigment called “prussian blue” or ferric ferrocyanide.
It is important that you have this staining set to perform the procedure. Then, we ask the hematology dept. for a positive control and proceed to fixing. A bone marrow aspirate smear is fixed in a glutaraldehyde or methanol and after such time it is air dried we immersed to these reagents on the picture.
After the staining procedure is done, we refer it to the pathologist to examine.
Results :
1. Iron (ferric form) - bright blue
2. Nuclei - red
3. Cytoplasm - pink
References:
https://www.labce.com/spg448399_iron_staining.aspx
http://laboratoryinfo.com/perls-prussian-blue-staining/
http://www.inflathrace.gr/sites/default/files/Staining%20Protocol%20for%20Iron.pdf
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