BLOOD SMEAR
Introduction
The blood smear is done before it stain. The examination of a stained blood smear is a part of
the complete blood count. Stains are applied to blood smears so that red blood cells (RBCs),
white blood cells (WBCs) and platelets can be microscopically viewed, identified, and
evaluated.
How to do blood smear??
1) Place a small drop of blood smear about one-half to three-quarters of an inch from the right
end of a precleaned slide placed on a flat surface.
2) Spread the drop by using another slide (called here the “spreader”), placing the spreader at a
45° angle and BACKING into the drop of blood. The spreader catches the drop and it
spreacapillary action along its edge.
3) To make a short smear, hold the spreader at a steeper angle, and to make a longer smear,
hold it closer to the drop. Now, push the spreader by across the slide, this pulls the blood
across to make the smear. Do not push the blood by having it ahead of the smearing slide! It
should take about one second to smear the drop. A smooth action is required, with the edge
of the spreader held against the slide. This will yield a nice, even smear.
Making a good blood smear
Clean slides: It is imperative to use clean high-quality glass slides with clean
edges. Touching the edges of the spreader slide will affect the quality of the
smear.
The size of the drop: If the drop is too large, the smear will be too long and
thick. A small drop may not be fully representative of the blood.
Speed of spreading action: The speed at which the spreader slide is moved
is very important. If you move it too fast, the smear is too short and all the
cells are at the feathered edge. If you go too slow, the smear is too long (lacks
a feathered edge).
Angle of the spreader slide: The angle determines the length of the smear.
An angle of approximately 30-40° is optimal. If you use a larger angle (45°),
the smear is very short. If you use a lower angle, the smear will be too long.
Maintain this angle through the duration of the spreading action.
Even contact: Even contact between the two slides is essential throughout
the smear preparation process – do not add much downward pressure onto
the spreader (top) slide.
common blood smear fault and their cures
FAULT CURE
Smear too short or small Use a larger drop of blood/
Decrease the angle of the spreader slide/
Decrease the speed of the spreader slide.
Smear too long, extends to end of slide with no Use a smaller drop of blood/
feathered edge Increase the angle of the spreader slide/
Increase the speed of the spreader slide.
Smear has waves and ridges Relax the wrist holding the spreader slide (too much
downward force causes the spreader slide to skip)
and/or
Increase the speed of the spreader slide.
Maintain even contact between the two slides and a
smooth motion while pushing the blood forward.
Only part of the drop was picked up by the spreader Draw spreader slide completely back through the
slide drop before pushing forward. If one side of the drop
was left behind, the edge of the spreader slide was
not in contact with the stationary slide - relax the
wrist holding the spreader slide.
Smear too thick Use a smaller drop of blood/
Decrease the angle of the spreader slide/
Increase the speed of the spreader slide.
Smear too thin Use a larger drop of blood /
Increase the angle of the spreader slide/
Decrease the speed of the spreader slide.
Factors affecting blood smear
●Large size-will give thick smears on slide.
size of blood drop ●Thick blood drop increases the length of slide.
●The smears will look short if too little.
Angle of spreader
●Good angle of spreader supposed to 30ºC
●Low angle-affected the length of smear
●Must be kept in EDTA
blood sample must be kept in correct ●Those kind of tube have specific component to prevent blood
container clotting.
●There is quite hard to get clean smear when the blood clot presence.
