University of Virginia Health System

Immature Basophil
(Basophilic Myelocyte)

Bone marrow aspirate smear, Wright-Giemsa stain, 1000x

Description:

Basophils, of whatever stage usually represent less than 1% of the white cells in the bone marrow and peripheral blood. A rare basophilic myelocyte is seen on a Wright-Giemsa stained bone marrow aspirate. Compared to a mature promyelocyte, a basophilic myelocyte is smaller, the nuclear chromatin is clumped, nucleoli usually are not seen, and the granules are slightly larger and darker staining (purpleish-black) and are unevenly distributed, often overlying and partially obscuring the nucleus. The granules are membrane-bound and the number is quite variable, and may appear artifactually reduced during the staining process due to the fact that they are water soluble.

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