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Preparation of Peripheral Blood Smears

Zone of morphology of a peripheral blood smear is where a peripheral blood should be viewed for morphological abnormalities of the blood cells

Peripheral blood smears are usually ordered together with a full blood count. A full blood count is able to give the quantitative results of the blood cells whereas morphological abnormalities of the blood cells are viewed from the blood smear. Using different stains on the smears allow viewing of the different blood components including inclusion bodies and even parasites. 

Materials

  1. EDTA preserved whole blood
  2. Glass slide and spreader
  3. Lens paper
  4. Hair dryer

Method

  1. Make sure the glass slide and spreader are clean using the lens paper. 
  2. Place 1 drop of well-mixed EDTA blood approximately 1 cm from the end of the glass slide, in the center.
Slide with a drop of blood at the end.

3. Hold the clean spreader at a 30° angle (in relation to the slide) just in front of the blood drop. 

Spreader should be held at about 30 degrees from the slide

4. Move the spreader backwards to touch the blood drop.

Pull the slider backwards to touch the blood drop

5. Allow the blood to spread the entire width of the spreader.

Allow the blood to spread across the width of the spreader

6. Push the spreader rapidly and smoothly across the glass slide while maintaining the angle of the spreader. The blood should spread across 2/3 of the entire glass slide. 

Spread the blood quickly across the slide in a single movement

7. Dry the slide using a hair dryer at the lowest speed. The smear can also be air-dried.

8. The blood smear can now be used for staining.

Zone of morphology is where the slide should be viewed for abnormalities of blood morphology

*  Fast spreading will result in longer and thinner films.

    Angles more than 30° will result in thicker smear.

    Large blood drops will cause the smear to extend beyond the length of the slide.

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