Use of Romanowsky type (Diff-3) stain for detecting Helicobacter pylori in smears and tissue sections

A Romanowsky type (Diff-3) stain was used for identifying Helicobacter pylori in gastric biopsy specimens from 50 patients with ulcer and non-ulcer dyspepsia. Air dried smears were prepared from fresh biopsy tissue and histological sections were prepared from paraffin wax processed tissue. The Diff-3 technique is accomplished in five steps and takes about 30 seconds. Results using the Diff-3 stain correlated 100% with those using the Giemsa stain. The Diff-3 stain is reliable, simple, rapid, easy and clean, and smears prepared from fresh biopsy tissue can be examined and an immediate report given. The method is recommended for the identification of H pylori in smears prepared from fresh tissue as well as in sections prepared from processed tissue.