X.H.001 Toluidine blue stain. Basophil. Marrow basophil granules react by taking on a deep blue to purple color (metachromasia).

Basophils can be viewed by simply preparing a thin film and viewed under a phase contrast microscope. Here, students may also prepare a thick film slide for comparison.

Main staining types when using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). A Basophil granulocyte stains dark purple upon H&E staining. Basophilic is a technical term used by pathologists. It describes the appearance of cells, tissues and cellular structures as seen through the microscope after a histological section has been stained with a basic dye.

The alcian blue staining method introduces several modifications in basophil staining which confer greater specificity and facilitate recognition of basophils by chamber counting or with optical detection devices.