HAEMATOLOGY STAINING
Where tap water is recommended in methods below, this may be substituted with
sterile/distilled/deionized where tap water is of a poor quality.
Staining characteristics of a correctly stained normal blood film:
NUCLEI............................. Purple
CYTOPLASM
Erythrocytes............Deep pink, Reticulocytes...........Grey-blue, Neutrophils..............Orange-pink,
Lymphocytes...........Blue; some small lymphocytes deep blue, Monocytes...............Grey-blue,
Basophils.................Blue
GRANULES
Neutrophils..............Fine purple, Toxic granules.........Blue-black, Eosinophils..............Red-orange,
Basophils.................Purple-black, Monocytes...............Fine reddish (azurphil), Platelets...................Purple
THICK SMEAR STAINING
{USE COPLIN JARS FOR STAINS AND WATER}
Reagents:
a) FIELDS A (Methylene blue)
b) FIELDS B (Eosin)
Method:
a) Make a thick smear and allow to dry (air dry).
b) Filter Fields A stain before use.
c) Place slide (hold still) in FIELDS A (Methylene blue – basophilic staining solution) for 2 seconds.
d) Rinse in tap water – in Coplin Jar.
e) Place slide (hold still) in FIELDS B (Eosin – acidophilic staining solution) for 2 seconds.
f) Rinse well in tap water (water MUST be changed after every slide).
g) FIELDS STAIN to be changed weekly or as required. h) Stain a positive and negative malaria slide as QC
with every stain change.