Leishman Stain

• Methylene blue
• Sodium carbonate
• Eosin
• Methyl alcohol, absolute

1. Prepare thin blood films and fix in undiluted stain solution for 1 – 2 min.
2. Add to undiluted stain on the slide twice its volume of dist. water and mix by gentle rocking. Allow the diluted stain to act for 10 min.
3. Wash and differentiate with dist. water. When correctly differentiated the smear should be salmon-pink colour.
4. Drain and dry in the air room temperature. Clean the back of the slide and examine microscopically.

Nuclei of leucocytes : Purple
Eosinophilic granules : Orange red.
Basophilic granules : Dark blue.
Lymphocytes : Dark purple nuclei with pale blue cytoplasm.
Platelets : Violet granules
Auer bodies : Red
Red blood corpuscles : Salmon pink