Basophilic stippling

Basophilic stippling, also known as punctate basophilia, is the presence of numerous basophilic granules that are dispersed through the cytoplasm of erythrocytes in a peripheral blood smear.

They are composed of aggregates of ribosomes; degenerating mitochondria and siderosomes may be included in the aggregates.

[citation needed] In contrast to Pappenheimer bodies, they are negative with Perls' acid ferrocyanide stain for iron (i.e. no iron in basophilic stippling).

[1] Basophilic stippling is indicative of disturbed erythropoiesis.

It can also be found in some normal individuals.