<![CDATA[Exudative pleural effusion cytology is an important diagnostic supporting examination used to evaluate cellular abnormalities in the pleural cavity. The quality of cytological staining plays a critical role in ensuring accurate interpretation of cellular morphology and pathological changes. This study aimed to compare the staining quality between Diff-Quick and Papanicolaou methods in exudative pleural effusion cytology at Buleleng District General Hospital. This study employed a descriptive analytic design with a comparative approach. The samples consisted of 32 exudative pleural effusion cytology slides stained using Diff-Quick and Papanicolaou methods. Staining quality assessment was based on four parameters, including cellular morphology, cytoplasmic staining intensity, nuclear staining intensity, and background clarity. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The results demonstrated a statistically significant difference between Diff-Quick and Papanicolaou staining methods (p = 0.004; p ≤ 0.05). Papanicolaou staining showed superior visualization of cellular morphology, nuclear detail, and background clarity, whereas Diff-Quick staining provided relatively satisfactory cytoplasmic staining intensity. Overall, the Papanicolaou staining method produced better staining quality compared to the Diff-Quick method in exudative pleural effusion cytology. These findings indicate that Papanicolaou staining remains more effective for detailed cytomorphological evaluation in pleural effusion specimens.]]>
