Preparation Of blood smear
When there is a delay between making-a-blood-smear, sample collection and submission, such as samples sent to the laboratory or collected after hours, always make 2-3 peripheral blood smears. We've provided tips and an example for making a good blood smear below. good making a blood smear Clean Slides: It is important to use clean high quality glass slides with clean edges. Touching the rims of the spreader slide will have an effect on the best of the smear.
Need a sample?
A blood sample taken from a vein in your arm or a finger prick or heel stick in the case of an infant.Need test prep?
No one.Blood Drop size:
Making a blood smear If the drop is too large, the smear will be too long and thick smear. A small drop may not be completely representative of blood. Speed of spreading action:
The pace at which the spreader slide is moved may be very important. If you move it too fast, the smear is too small and all the cells are on the winged edge. If you move too slowly, the smear is too long (it lacks a winged edge).
Spreader Slide Angle:
The angle determines the length of the blood smear. An angle of about 30-40° is optimal. If you use a larger angle (45°), the smear is much smaller. If you use a low angle, the smear will be too long. Maintain this attitude via the period of the spreading action.
Even contact:
Even contact between the two slides is important throughout the smear preparation process – do not apply too much downward pressure on the spreader (top) slide.How to do a peripheral blood smear.
A:
Use clean slides with cold ends. Place a drop of blood on the slide as follows (we recommend using a micro hematocrit or capillary tube instead of the pipette shown in the image). Fill the capillary tube at least 3/4 full with well-mixed blood;Then put your finger on one end to keep it from coming out. Holding the tube horizontally above the slide, release the pressure of your finger on the tip, and tilt the tube slightly toward vertical to allow a controlled amount of Bleed out of the tube and onto the slide. Place a drop of blood about 4 mm in diameter on the slide, about 0.5 cm from the frozen area.
B:
Pick up another clean slide and hold it with your first two or three fingers on one edge of the slide and your thumb on the opposite edge. You have a slide spreader slide in your hand. Do now no longer contact the spreading edge (quick non-frosted end) together along with your hands.Place the spreader end of the spreader slide in front of the blood droplet at a 30-40 degree angle to the slide. The entire short edge of the spreader slide should be in full contact with the bottom slide. Using your other hand, pin the lower slide to the countertop so it doesn't move. In one smooth motion, pull the spreader slide back through the entire drop of blood (C).
C & D:
Once the blood has spread over the edge of the spreader slide (this happens quickly), push the blood forward along the length of the lower slide.It is important to relax your wrist and maintain a constant smooth motion and the same angle for the spreader slide when spreading the drop of blood, as well as constant contact between the two slides (with very little downward pressure). .
E:
If the drop size and speed/angle of the spreader slide is correct, you will run out of blood before reaching the end of the slide, thus creating a "feathered edge" and a smear that does not extend more than ¾ Is. along side the length of the slide. If your smears do not look like the example above, refer to the table below to identify errors and treatment(s).
Blood smear shows abnormal result. can additional tests be done?
Depending on the results from the CBC and blood smear and the condition your healthcare practitioner suspects, follow-up testing may include tests such as:
Iron tests
Vitamin B12 and folate test
Flow cytometry immunopheno typing
Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy.
BCR-ABL1
Diagnosis of hemoglobinopathy
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