Objective: To evaluate the color of cytoplasm stained by Papanicolaou staining quantitatively.
Study design: Cytoplasm photographed under the same conditions was measured for spectral reflection by colorimetry, and the color of the cytoplasm was shown by the L*a*b* color specification.
Results: This method enabled us to specify the color of cytoplasm, which was classified in light green, eosin and orangeophilic.
Conclusion: The variation in the color of cytoplasm by different staining methods was quantified and related to the dyes absorbed by the cytoplasm.