What is evaluated when examining the feathered edge of a blood film?

The feathered edge This should be the first part of the smear that is examined at low power to detect platelet clumps and microfilaria, but should be avoided when evaluating blood cells at higher power. Abnormally large cells of potential diagnostic importance also tend to be drawn to the end of the smear.

What are the features of a well made wedge peripheral blood film?

Features of a well-made wedge peripheral blood film The lateral edges of the film are visible. The film is smooth without irregularities, holes, or streaks. When the slide is held up to the light, the thin portion (feather edge) of the film has a “rainbow” appearance. The whole drop of blood is picked up and spread.

What are the common errors in making a thick and thin blood film?

Blood smears – common errors slide 1 – perfect smear. slide 2 – smear technique interrupted in middle. slide 3 – smear was skewed. slide 4 – blood droplet too thick.

What type of stain is used for blood smears?

Blood films are routinely stained with a Romanowsky-type stain (e.g., Wright or Wright-Giemsa) either manually or using an automatic slide stainer. Romanowsky-type stains are composed of a mixture of eosin and oxidized methylene blue (azure) dyes.

Which stain is used for peripheral blood smear?

Commonly used stain in our environment is Leishman stain which is composed of polychrome methylene blue (basic component) and eosin (acidic component). May-Grunwald Giemsa or Wright-Giemsa stain can also be used.

What is the purpose of the feathered edge on a blood smear?

The smear itself should look very smooth with a seamless progression to what is called a “feathered edge”. This is the very end area of the smear and consists of a monolayer of cells. The monolayer will contain cells that are the easiest to identify and are the least distorted.

What stain is used for full blood count?

The test can be performed manually by staining the blood with new methylene blue and counting the percentage of red blood cells containing RNA under the microscope.

What are some of the errors to avoid when making a blood smear?

What are five errors to avoid when making a blood smear? Do not use dirty slides; do not use too large a drop of blood; do not delay in spreading the blood; do not apply too much pressure to the spreader slide; and do not dry the smears in a humid environment which will prolong the drying time.

What happens to a blood smear if it is too thick?

Insufficiently dried smears (and/or smears that are too thick) can detach from the slides during staining. The risk is increased in smears made with anticoagulated blood. At room temperature, drying can take several hours; 30 minutes is the minimum; in the latter case, handle the smear very delicately during staining.

What is hematology staining?

Haematological stains are staining reagents intended for use in cellular diagnostics in human medicine, in particular for the haematological and clinical-cytological examination of blood samples of human origin.

What is blood film used for?

A blood film allows the evaluation of white blood cells (WBCs, leucocytes), red blood cells (RBCs, erythrocytes), and platelets (thrombocytes). These cell are produced and mature in the bone marrow and are released into the bloodstream when needed.