Why might polychromatophilic red blood cells not stain properly?

Polychromatophilic red blood cells, also known as reticulocytes, may not stain properly when they fail to react adequately to certain staining methods, such as blue stains. This can happen because the cells contain a mixture of hemoglobin and residual RNA, which can affect how they interact with the staining reagents. In particular, blue stains are designed to highlight cellular components, and if the polychromatophilic cells do not take up the stain evenly or effectively, it can lead to an inaccurate representation of their presence in a sample.

In a well-prepared sample, these cells should display the characteristic bluish tint due to their RNA content. If they do not stain correctly, it may mislead the observation of reticulocyte counts, thus affecting the assessment of erythropoiesis and overall red blood cell health. Understanding this is crucial for accurate cytologic studies and the diagnosis of various blood disorders.