Table of Contents
What makes a good blood smear?
An optimal smear is three-quarters the length of the slide and has a feathered edge. Leave the slide to air dry and make more smears if required. Pack smears individually into slide holders.
What cells are in a blood smear?
The blood smear allows for the evaluation of these cells:
- White blood cells (WBCs, leukocytes) — help fight infections or participate in immune responses.
- Red blood cells (RBCs, erythrocytes) — carry oxygen to tissues.
- Platelets (thrombocytes) — small cell fragments that are vital to proper blood clotting.
How do you have a perfect blood smear?
The Ideal Blood Smear An ideal slide is neither too thin nor too thick. It should end about two-thirds to three-fourths of the way down the slide. The end of the smear should be thin enough that it has a rainbow-like reflectiveness about it, and there should be no streaks at the very edge.
What are the 3 kinds of cells you can see in the blood smear?
Blood Smear
- Red blood cells, which carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body.
- White blood cells, which fight infection.
- Platelets, which help your blood to clot.
What are teardrop cells?
Definition. Teardrop erythrocytes are poikilocytes that allow for conclusions to be drawn about changes in the formation of blood. They have a blunt rounded side and a thinning leaking tip, similar to a tear (Figure 1A).
How are blood smear made?
A blood smear is made by placing a drop of blood on one end of a slide, and using a spreader slide to disperse the blood over the slide’s length. The aim is to get a region, called a monolayer, where the cells are spaced far enough apart to be counted and differentiated.
What are the common causes of poor blood smear?
Drop of blood too large or too small. Spreader slide pushed across the horizontal slide in a jerky manner. Failure to keep the entire edge of the spreader slide against the horizontal slide while making the smear. Failure in using appropriate angle for the spreader slide.
When do you see teardrop cells?
The presence of teardrop-shaped cells may indicate: Myelofibrosis. Severe iron deficiency. Thalassemia major.
What are bite cells?
Bite cells, or “degmacytes”, are erythrocytes with an irregular membrane which result from splenic macrophage-mediated removal of denatured hemoglobin molecules. Bite cells are commonly identified in glucose-6-phostphate dehydrogenase deficiency.
What is poor blood smear?
Common Causes of a Poor Blood Smear • As soon as the drop of blood is placed on the glass slide, there should be no delay in the making of the smear. Any delay, whatsoever, results in abnormal distribution of the white cells with many of the white cells accumulating at the thin edge of the smear.