Manual Test Methods Flashcards
What are characteristics of a good smear
smoot even film with feathered ends
minimum of 3cm in length
blood should not spill over the end or sides
What causes a smear to be too short
spreading the blood too quickly, angle of spreading slide greater than 30 degrees
What causes a smear to be too long
spreading the blood too slowly, angle of spreader is less than 30 degrees
What causes a smear to be too thin
drop of blood too small, patient has low HGB
What causes a smear to be too thick
drop of blood too large, patient abnormalities with viscous blood
What causes chattering or streaking in a smear
clots/clumps/debris on slide, blood drying out, glass edge not smooth
What does malaria protocol need
4 thin smears (2 stained, 2 unstained) and 4 thick smears
When is a buffy coat smear made
when the white blood cell count is too low for analysis on a routine smear or when bacteria/parasites are present
What is a buffy coat smear used for
to evaluate WBC morphology
When is a cytospin smear used
whenever a fluid has a WBC count above 5x10^6/L
What types of smears are used for bone marrows
push smears, squash smears and touch-prep smears
What are the components of a wright-giemsa stain
methylene blue, purified azure blue B, eosin
What fixative is used for the wright-giemsa stain
methanol
What is the pH of the wright-giemsa stain
6.8
What components are stained by the methylene blue and azure B in wright-giemsa
nucleic acids, RNA, DNA, neutrophil granules
What components are stained by the eosin in wright-giemsa
hemoglobin, eosinophil, neutrophil granules
What are the components of a May-Grunwald stain
eosin, methylene blue
What is the pH of a may-grunwald-giemsa stain
6.8
What does the May-grunwald component of the may-grunwald-giemsa stain
cytoplasm
What does the giemsa component of the may-grunwald-giemsa stain
nuclear and inclusions
What are the components of giemsa stain for malaria
eosin, purified azure B, methylene blue
What are common supervital stains
new methylene blue, brilliant cresyl blue, methyl violet, crystal violet, brilliant green
What is the principle of supervital stains
used to stain living and unfixed cells in vitro to demonstrate heinz bodies and reticulocytes