C M AC M A Cooperative Medical Assistance (CMA) BLOOD SMEAR
PREPARATION AND EVALUATION
C M AC M A Overview Blood Smear Preparation Blood Smear
Evaluation
C M AC M A Blood Smear Preparation Materials and Supplies
Sample (EDTA) Slides Fixative, Buffer and Stain Diff-Quik
Water
C M AC M A A drop of blood is placed on a clean microscope
slide. Push-smear Technique
C M AC M A A spreader slide is used to feather the drop of
blood.
C M AC M A Diff-Quik Technique FIXATIVE About 5 minutes
Solution 1 8-10 dips (1 second each) Solution 2 6-8 dips (1 second
each) Water Rinse till clean
C M AC M A Staining
C M AC M A Microscopic Evaluation 10X objective
C M AC M A Erythrocyte (RBC) RBC estimate Cell morphology
C M AC M A Total RBCs Species Average (x106) Range (x106) Horse
8.0 6 - 12 Cattle 7.0 5 10 Sheep 12.0 8 15 Goat 13.0 8 17
C M AC M A Thrombocyte Platelets Small cell fragments that are
responsible for blood clotting
C M AC M A Total Platelets Species Range Horse 100,000 600,000
Cattle 100,000 800,000 Sheep 250,000 750,000 Goat 300,000
600,000
C M AC M A RBC Morphology Morphology of Erythrocytes can be
categorized according to: Cell arrangements Size Color Shape
Presence of structures in or on the RBC
C M AC M A MCH and MCHC Normochromic describe the erythrocyte
as normal range Hypochromic below the range
C M AC M A Anisocytosis -Variation in size of RBCs
C M AC M A Acanthocytes Abnormal blunt projections on the cell
wall Burr or spur cells Alteration in the cell membrane
C M AC M A Shistocyte Fragmented RBCs
C M AC M A Rouleaux Formation where RBCs stack Commonly seen in
horses, rarely seen in ruminants May increase with inflammatory
disease
C M AC M A Poikilocytosis Abnormal shape of RBCs Variation in
shape of the RBCs May represent formational defects or mechanical
or toxic damage
C M AC M A Crenation Mostly an artifact of preparation and not
due to cellular changes Slow drying of blood film Cell
shrinkage
C M AC M A Target Cells Appearance of a target or thicker,
dark-staining center surrounded by a light stained area and dark
periphery Most common with chronic disease
C M AC M A Leukocyte (WBC) WBC estimate WBC differential WBC
morphology
C M AC M A Total WBC Species Average Range (cells/cu mm) Horse
9,250 6,000 14,000 Cattle 8,000 4,000 12,000 Sheep 9,000 4,000
12,000 Goat 12,000 6,000 13,000
C M AC M A WBC Differential Band Segmented Neutrophils
Neutrophils Lymphocyte Horse 0 1 30 75 25 60 Cow 0 2 15 45 45 75
Sheep Rare 10 50 40 75 Goat Rare 30 48 50 70 Differential range
(%)
C M AC M A WBC Differential Average differential range (%)
Monocyte Eosinophil Basophil Horse 1 8 5 10 0 3 Cow 2 7 2 20 0 2
Sheep 0 6 0 10 0 3 Goat 0 4 1 8 0 1
C M AC M A WBCs Granulocytes Eosinophils Neutrophils Basophils
Agranulocytes Lymphocytes Monocytes
C M AC M A Eosinophils Help in controlling allergic and or
anaphylactic reactions Distinct red staining granules Segmented
nucleus
C M AC M A Neutrophils Predominant WBC Phagocytic and
bactericidal 10 hour life span in circulating blood
C M AC M A Basophils Segmented nucleus Purple to blue-black
granules
C M AC M A Lymphocytes Small to medium size mononuclear cells
Slight cytoplasm, stains blue
C M AC M A Monocytes Derived from bone marrow Largest
circulating cell Found only briefly in circulation before entering
tissues and becoming a macrophage
C M AC M A Nucleated RBCs Inclusion Bodies Parasites
Bacterias
C M AC M A Nucleated RBC Represent early release of immature
cells during anemia.
C M AC M A Babesia Large teardrop-shaped intracellular
protozoan Frequently seen in pairs
C M AC M A Rickettsial Parasite found in RBCs
C M AC M A Trypanosomes
C M AC M A Anthrax
C M AC M A ANAPLASMOSIS Rickettsial disease of ruminants