NAHP NRCMA Exam - Topic 7 Question 31 Discussion

Actual exam question for NAHP's NRCMA exam

Question #: 31
Topic #: 7

[All NRCMA Questions]

When performing a differential white blood cell count a basophil will be recognized by

Alarge blue to purple staining granules

Ba segmented nucleus, but the granu les have no specific color__________________________

Clarge red to bronze staining granules

Dnoneoftheabove

Show Suggested Answer

Suggested Answer: A

Basophils are a type of white blood cell that can be identified under a microscope by their large blue to purple staining granules. These granules contain histamine and heparin, which play a role in inflammatory responses and allergic reactions. Basophils are involved in immune system responses and can be recognized during a differential white blood cell count due to their distinctive staining properties and granule appearance.

Clinical Hematology and Fundamentals of Hemostasis

Wintrobe's Clinical Hematology

by Juan at Nov 24, 2025, 11:45 PM

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Junita

1 month ago

D doesn't make sense. There’s definitely a right answer here.

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Audry

2 months ago

I'm leaning towards A too. It's clear in the slides.

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Taryn

2 months ago

No way, C is for eosinophils, not basophils.

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Val

2 months ago

What about C? Red to bronze sounds familiar.

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Veronique

2 months ago

I agree, A seems right. They really pop in the stain.

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Ettie

2 months ago

I think it's A. Those granules are so distinct.

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Gracia

2 months ago

D) noneoftheabove seems off, basophils definitely have those granules.

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Sunny

3 months ago

I remember it being A too, it’s pretty distinct!

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Corinne

3 months ago

Wait, are you sure about that? I thought they were more reddish.

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Josphine

3 months ago

Totally agree, that's the classic look for basophils!

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Vanesa

4 months ago

C) large red to bronze staining granules? What is this, a fashion show for blood cells?

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Beckie

4 months ago

Haha, "noneoftheabove" is a classic trick answer. Nice try, but I'm not falling for that one.

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Isaac

4 months ago

The question is asking about basophils, not neutrophils. B) is clearly wrong.

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Annice

4 months ago

A) large blue to purple staining granules is the correct answer.

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Isabella

4 months ago

I feel like the answer might be A, but I also remember something about segmented nuclei in other white blood cells. This is tricky!

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Dorinda

4 months ago

I’m pretty confident that basophils are recognized by their large granules, but I’m confused about the color—was it blue or red?

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Dominque

5 months ago

I remember practicing a similar question, and I think the granules were described as reddish or bronze, but I can't recall if that was for basophils or another type.

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Mirta

5 months ago

I think basophils have those large blue to purple granules, but I’m not entirely sure if that’s the right color.

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Ashton

5 months ago

Ugh, I'm not totally sure about this. The wording of the question is a bit confusing. I'll have to read it over a few times and really think it through.

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Dorothy

5 months ago

Alright, time to put my knowledge of white blood cell types to the test. I'm pretty confident I can nail this one if I just remember the defining features of basophils.

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Rikki

5 months ago

A) large blue to purple staining granules

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Arlette

6 months ago

Okay, let's see. Basophils, basophils... Ah, I've got it! The granules are the distinctive feature, so I just need to match that to the answer choices.

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Justine

6 months ago

Okay, let me think this through. I know basophils have distinctive granules, so that's probably the key here. I'll need to carefully consider the color and appearance of the granules.

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