Introduction

In hematology polychromatic Romanowsky dyes are a standard for blood smears and bone marrow staining. Various sorts of Romanowsky dyes (Giemsa, May-Gruenwald, Leishman, Wright, Jenner) contain different ratios of methylene bluing reagent used as the cation component (and the reagent-related thiazine dyes, such as azure B) and eosin Y as the anion component. Cation and anion components interaction creates a well known Romanowsky effect that cannot be achieved if each component is being used individually. Purple color indicates the effect’s presence. Staining intensity depends on the azure B content, as well as azure B to eosin Y ratio, while a few other factors affect the result of staining: working solution pH value, fixation method, buffer substance type and dye exposure time. BioGnost’s Wright’s solution is used for differentiating nuclear and/or cytoplasmatic morphology of thrombocytes, erythrocytes, and lymphocytes in blood smear or bone marrow aspirates.