Lab Final Flashcards
What are the 3 ways to achieve a total leukocyte count
Automated, manual, and estimate
What is used to do a manual total leukocyte count
A hemocytometer
Which method of doing a leukocyte count is the most accurate
The manual
What other things go into a WBC evaluation
Differential leukocyte count, leukocyte morphology, and leukocyte inclusions
What two things go into differential leukocyte count
Differential (%) and absolute (acutal #)
What objective is used for a WBC estimate
10x
What do you multiply the avg WBC count per field by to obtain a WBC estimate
330
What is the equation for total WBC count using a hemacytometer
Avg WBC * 50 = WBC/microliter
What do we do w/ the total WBCs in the 4 squares of the 2 quadrants
We make sure the two numbers are with in 10% of each other
What are the different types of platelets can be seen on a blood smear
Activate, not activated, giant platelets, or platelet clumping
What is platelet clumping
Gathered platelets that are common in cats, is technique sensitive, and automatic machine doesn’t count as platelets because they are large
What are the 4 things can be used to identify WBCs
Size, nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio, cytoplasm, and nucleus
How do you think about WBC size for identification
How many RBCs will fit into the cell
How do you use the cytoplasm to identify WBCs
Color and presence of granules
How can the nucleus of WBCs be used for identification
Shape, chromatin, and presence of nucleoli
What is the most numerous circulating WBC
Segmented neutrophil
What are characteristics of segmented neutrophil
Condensed dark staining chromatin w/ clumped areas, 1-5 segments is normal, a pinch must be 2/3 of the thickness to be a mature, and barr bodies may be present if female
What are characteristics of the cytoplasm of a segmented neutrophil
Pale staining being clear or light pink in color depending on how long it was in each stain
What is the second most numerous WBC
Lymphocytes
What is the general size of a lymphocyte in dogs and cats
Most commonly a little larger than a RBC
What are characteristics of a lymphocytes nucleus
Mostly round w/ the occasional slight indentation or cleave, takes up to 80% of cell size or more, intensely stained, and pyknotic
What are characteristics of the cytoplasm of a lymphocyte
Minimal present, pale blue, often squished to one side of the nucleus, and frequently molds to the shape of the RBCs around it like an ameoba
