[Histonet] Giemsa - smears vs. paraffin sections

[Cameron, Elizabeth]

Happy New Year, Histonetters!

I have always been taught that a Wright-Giemsa stain was strictly for smears, and a different modification (i.e. May-Grunwald) should be used for tissues.  I was recently asked what the reasoning was, and to be honest I am not sure.  I understand that tissue stains differently from smears, and I would imagine timing would be different, but is there a reason the solutions are different?  Very curious.

Thanks!

-Liz