Peripheral Blood Smear Preparation (F) Flashcards
What are the purposes of peripheral blood smear?
1) Examination of the circulating blood cells under the microscope
2) Correlation the released blood cell counts from automated machines and obtained blood cell counts from manual methods
3) Confirmation of the presence of abnormal blood cells
What are the accepted sxs for PBS for capillary blood and venous or arterial blood in terms of usage of anticoagulant for the blood sx?
Capillary blood: no anticoagulant is needed; if problem persists, EDTA microcollection tubes can be used
Venous or arterial blood: EDTA is the preferred anticoagulant; if PLT satellitosis occurs, Na citrate can be used
What are the accepted sxs for PBS for capillary blood and venous or arterial blood in terms of timing of smear preparation?
Capillary blood: smears should be done immediately after collection
Venous or arterial blood: smears can be made within 4 hrs of blood draw
What are the accepted sxs for PBS for capillary blood and venous or arterial blood in terms of location of smear preparation?
Capillary blood: smears made bedside
Venous or arterial blood: multiple # of slides
What are the accepted sxs for PBS for capillary blood and venous or arterial blood in terms of PLT clumping?
Capillary blood: present if smears are directly made from puncture site or if heparinized microHct tubes are used
Venous or arterial blood: absent
What are the diff methodologies of PBS?
1) Two-cover slip method or Ehrlich’s
2) Two-slide method or wedge
3) Automated methods
What is the procedure (or steps) of two-cover slip method or Ehrlich’s?
1) Get 2 clean cover slips / glasses. Place 1 small drop of blood on the center of the 1st cover slip
2) Position the 2nd cover slip crosswise on top of the 1st cover slip to allow the blood to spread out evenly on the cover slip
3) Pull the 2nd cover slip rapidly and firmly through a horizontal and lateral manner
4) Air-dry the 1st cover slip
What is the procedure (or steps) of two-slide method or wedge?
1) Get 2 clean glass slides. Place 1 small drop of blood on the far end of the 1st glass slide
2) Position the 2nd glass slide at 30 degrees - 45 degrees before the drop of blood on the 1st glass slide to allow the blood to spread out evenly on the vertex
3) Move the 2nd glass slide rapidly and smoothly over the length of the 1st glass slide at a constant angle
4) Air-dry the 1st glass slide
What are the 2 automated methods of PBS?
1) sysmex
2) Beckman Coulter
What are the criteria of a good smear?
1) The film is 2/3 to 3/4 the length of the slide
2) There should be an gradual transition from the thick area to the thin area
3) The film must have a feathery edge that is very slightly rounded and has a rainbow appearance when the slide is held up to the light
4) The film is finger-shaped or tongue-shaped and not bullet-shaped
5) The film has a smooth and even surface free from ridges, waves, holes, streaks, or irregularities
6) The lateral edges of the film are visible
What are the parts of a PBS?
1) Head (application point)
2) Body (thick area)
3) Monolayer (morphology)
4) Tail (feathery edge)
What is the appearance of blood cells in the body of PBS?
Clumped
What is the appearance of the blood cells in the monolayer of PBS?
Good
What is the appearance of the blood cells in the tail of the PBS?
Sparse
Where should reading be done in an PBS?
In the monolayer
