PBS Flashcards
estimates can be achieved
White blood cell (WBC)
and platelet count
can be obtained
relative proportions
of the different types of WBCs
can be evaluated for abnormalities
morphology of all three cell lines
The peripheral film evaluation is the capstone of a panel of
tests called the
complete blood count (CBC) or hemogram
The
CBC includes
enumeration of cellular elements, quantitation of
hemoglobin, and statistical analyses
all specimens received for routine testing in the
hematology section of the laboratory have been collected in
lavender (purple)–topped tubes
EDTA CONTAINS
disodium or
tripotassium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)
is often preferred to
the powdered form because it mixes more easily with blood.
Liquid tripotassium EDTA
Blood films from EDTA tubes that remain at
room temperature for ____ often have unacceptable blood cell artifacts
more than 5 hours
High-quality blood films can be made from the blood in the
EDTA tube, provided that they are made within
4 hours of drawing the specimen
unacceptable blood cell artifacts
echinocytic red blood cells [RBCs], spherocytes, necrobiotic leukocytes, and vacuolated neutrophils
main advantages of making films from blood in the EDTA tube
-multiple slides can be made
-do not have to be prepared immediately after the blood is drawn
-prevents platelets from
clumping on the glass slide
is still the specimen of choice for evaluation of blood cell morphology
anticoagulant-free blood
Some patients’ blood undergoes an in vitro phenomenon called _____ when
anticoagulated with EDTA
platelet satellitosis
The platelets surround or adhere to neutrophils, which potentially causes ________
when counting is done by automated methods
pseudothrombocytopenia
can result from EDTA induced platelet clumping
-spuriously low platelet counts
-falsely increased WBC counts (pseudoleukocytosis)
occurs when
platelet agglutinates are similar in size to WBCs and automated
analyzers cannot distinguish the two.
Pseudoleukocytosis
