PBS Flashcards
When should blood smears be made from EDTA blood?
Within 3 hours after collection
Advantages of EDTA blood smear
Multiple smears, delayed preparation, prevents platelet clumping
Disadvantages of EDTA blood smear
Platelet satellitism, EDTA-induced platelet clumping
What conditions can EDTA cause in PBS?
Pseudothrombocytopenia, pseudoleukocytosis
Correction for EDTA effects in PLT
Recollect using 3.2% Na Citrate, multiply platelet count by 1.1
Best specimen for evaluating cell morphology?
Anticoagulant-free blood
Advantages of anticoagulant-free blood
Prepared at patient’s side, prevents some artifacts
Disadvantages of anticoagulant-free blood
Platelet clumping (caused by glass), limited films can be made
Most frequently used blood film preparation method?
Two-glass slide method (Manual Wedge Technique)
What angle should be between the pusher and film slide?
30 - 45 degrees
Effect of too high angle of spreader?
Thicker smear
Effect of too low angle of spreader?
Thinner smear
Ideal size of blood drop for smear?
2-3mm
Effect of too large blood drop?
Thicker smear
Effect of too small blood drop?
Thinner smear
Distance from label when preparing smear?
1 cm away
Effect of too fast spreader speed?
Thicker smear
Effect of too slow spreader speed?
Thinner smear, poor WBC distribution
Effect of high hematocrit (Hct) correction in PBS?
Lower the angle (as low as 25 degrees)
Effect of low hematocrit (Hct) correction in PBS?
Raise the angle
How should the scanning method be done under microscope?
Longitudinal (tail to head) or battlement (back and forth serpentine)
What is the ideal transition of a blood smear from thick to thin area?
Gradual transition
How much of the film slide should the smear cover?
2/3 to 3/4 of the length of the film slide
What shape should the smear be?
Finger-shaped
What should be visible on the smear?
Lateral edges
What should the smear not have?
Irregularities, holes, or streaks
What appearance should the feather edge have?
Rainbow appearance
What problem occurs with Wedge method?
WBCs are unevenly distributed across the slide