Wright Stain Method
EMS Catalog Number: 26060
Fixation:
Streak thin (approximately one cell thick) smears across a sterile slide by means of a second slide or cover glass. Air dry quickly.
Staining:
- Place 1.0 ml of the Wright Stain Solution upon the smear 1 – 3 minutes.
- Add 2.0 ml distilled water or Phosphate buffer pH 6.5 and let stand twice as long as in step 1.
- Rinse stained smear with water or the Phosphate buffer pH 6.5 until the edges show faintly pinkish-red.
- For a Giemsa appearance stain 10 minutes in one volume Wright Stain and 4 volumes Phosphate buffer, pH 6.5.
- Blot dry very carefully. Stain may be adjusted by further dilution or in the timing of either before or after dilution in the above procedure.
Results:
| Erthrocytes | yellowish-red |
| Polymorphonuclears: Nucleus | dark purple |
| Polymorphonuclears: Granules | reddish-lilac |
| Polymorphonuclears: Cytoplasm | pale-pink |
| Eosinophiles: Nuclei | blue |
| Eosinophiles: Granules | red to orange-red |
| Eosinophiles: Cytoplasm | blue |
| Basophiles: Nucleus | purple to dark blue |
| Basophiles: Granules | very dark purple |
| Lymphocytes: Nuclei | dark purple |
| Lymphocytes: Cytoplasm | sky blue |
| Platelets | violet to purple granules |
References:
Conn, J I Biological Stains, 8th Ed.,Williams and Wilkins Co. Baltimore, 1969.Clark, G (ed.) Staining Procedures, Williams and Wilkens Co., Baltimore, 3rd Ed., c 1972, p. 122
