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By definition, a supravital stain is used to demonstrate the in vivo vital processes of cells that have been removed from the body. Supravital stains (New Methylene Blue N; Brilliant Cresyl Blue) are used in particular to stain reticulocytes for a manual retic count. Reticulocytes are immature RBC's released early from the bone marrow in response to anemia. Using Brilliant Cresyl Blue, the reticulocytes will show a "reticular" (mesh-like) network of residual rRNA that has not yet been extruded from the cell.

Any RBC can be seen on a supravital stain, supravital stains are used to identify Heinz bodies in cases of G6PD deficiency anemia

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14y ago

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