What makes a good blood smear?
An optimal smear is three-quarters the length of the slide and has a feathered edge. Leave the slide to air dry and make more smears if required.
What is a normal peripheral smear?
A normal peripheral blood smear indicates the appropriate appearance of red blood cells, with a zone of central pallor occupying about 1/3 of the size of the RBC.
What clues on a CBC would make a doctor suspect leukemia?
Leukemia is most often diagnosed through a diagnostic test called a complete blood count (CBC). If a patient’s CBC shows abnormal levels of white blood cells or abnormally low red blood cells or platelets, he or she has leukemia. The physician will then order a bone marrow biopsy to determine the type of leukemia.
What does a perfect blood smear look like?
The smear itself should look very smooth with a seamless progression to what is called a “feathered edge”. This is the very end area of the smear and consists of a monolayer of cells. The monolayer will contain cells that are the easiest to identify and are the least distorted.
What are the important considerations in the preparation of a perfect peripheral blood smear?
It takes considerable practice to consistently make perfect blood smears. The handmade wedge or thin slide is the most commonly prepared blood film. Three factors may be altered slightly to produce a perfect blood smear: speed, angle and drop size.
What is an ideal smear?
A good quality smear has the following features; • A dense body; this should take up about 2/3 of the entire smear and should blend smoothly into. the monolayer area. • A well-developed feathered edge. This edge should have a fine, feathery appearance; if there.
What is the importance of a well made well stained and carefully examined peripheral blood film in performing WBC differential count?
A well-made, well-stained, and carefully examined peripheral blood film can provide valuable information regarding a patient’s health. More can be learned from this test than from many other routinely performed hematologic tests.
What are the common causes of poor blood smear?
Drop of blood too large or too small. Spreader slide pushed across the horizontal slide in a jerky manner. Failure to keep the entire edge of the spreader slide against the horizontal slide while making the smear. Failure in using appropriate angle for the spreader slide.
What are the 4 qualities of a well stained smear?
List 3 characteristics of a well-stained blood smear.
- Stain is not too dark or too pale.
- No stain precipitate is present on the smear.
- RBCs are appropriate color of reddish pink.
What information does a peripheral smear add to the results of a complete blood count?
The results of a blood smear typically include a description of the appearance of the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets as well as any abnormalities that may be seen on the slide.
What is the important considerations in the preparation of a perfect peripheral blood smear?
What is the importance of a well made well-stained and carefully examined peripheral blood film in performing WBC differential count?