Blood Analysis - lab skills

Question 1

How do you run a PCV?

Answer 1

Put on gloves

Select EDTA tube

Fill capillary tube 2/3 to 2/4 full

hold thumb over end and push capillary tube into putty

wipe off excess blood

repeat with a second tube

place opposite each other in centrifuge
- with putty on outside

ensure centrifuge is balanced

place plate on

spin for 5 mins at 10,000RPM

Question 2

How to read a PCV?

Answer 2

line top of putty at the bottom of the Hawksley reader

line up top of plasma with the top of the Hawksley reader

line up adjustable line with top of red blood cells/buffy layer

follow the line to read %

Question 3

How do you run a total solids?

Answer 3

wipe off any dust from prism with a tissue

calibrate the refractometer
- apply 2 drops of distilled water to the prism
- look into lens and point to the light
- ensure line is at 1.000 (USG)
- adjust with screwdriver if necessary
- wipe off distilled water

crack PCV in the middle of the serum

put 1-2 drops of serum onto the prism

look through eye piece and read the total proteins

rinse with water and dry

Question 4

How do you make a blood smear?

Answer 4

Use a haematocrit to draw up blood from EDTA tube

put a drop of blood near the bottom of the slide
- next to the frosted edge

using another slide, pull back drop towards the edge until the blood has expanded underneath the spreader

with a quick and even motion push the blood up the slide

let air dry

Question 5

how do you stain a blood smear?

Answer 5

Dip left to right

1. light blue - methanol
2. red - eosin
3. purple - methylene blue

5 times, 1-2 seconds each dunk

rinse off excess stain with distilled water

leave to dry tilted upright vertically

Question 6

how do you use a microscope?

Answer 6

Check that the light intensity switch (rheostat) is turned to the lowest setting

Turn on the microscope

Rack down the mechanical stage as low as possible

Select the lowest power objective lens

Place the microscope slide on the stage

Look at the stage directly whilst racking it up so that it is positioned
just below the objective lens

Look down the eye piece

Adjust the rheotstat to ideal lighting

Adjust the sub stage condenser to an appropriate height

Adjust the coarse and fine focus to focus the microscope

Question 7

How should you care for a microscope?

Answer 7

support base when lifting
- never push or pull along surface!

never leave light on for longer periods

clean using disinfectant

clean lenses with lint free tissues

Question 8

what do you look at for a blood smear?

Answer 8

first check shape of smear
- body, monolayer, feathered edge
- otherwise not useful

under microscope
- examine shape and size of RBCs
- identify and count WBCs
- examine platelets - large clumps of abnormally large cells?
- look for blood parasites

Question 9

What do the different WBCs look like under microscope?

Answer 9

https://www.123rf.com/photo_4262889_white-blood-cells-as-seen-under-microscope.html

Question 10

How do you read and record the vernier scale?

Answer 10

find where 0 on the small (vernier) scale meets the main (linear) scale
- if it falls between 2 divisions, record the lower number

find the first two divisions which line up on both scales and record number on the vernier scale

reading: 1st number with second number after decimal

repeat for an X (horizontal) and Y (vertical) axis

Question 11

what are the different parts of a microscope?

Answer 11

https://microbenotes.com/parts-of-a-microscope/