Methods of Preparing Blood Smear1. Two Slide or Wedge Method2. Two Cover Slip Method or Erlich Method3. Cover Glassand Slide Method or Spinner’s Method

Types of Stains Used in Differential Counting1. Romanowsky Stains

a. Wright Stainb. Giemsa Stainc. Leishman Stain

2. Panoptic Stainsa. Jenner- Giemsa Stainb. May- Grunwald- Griemsa Stain

Methods of Staining1. Staining Dish Method2. Staining Jar or DIP Method3. Automatic Method

Methods of Differential Staining1. Four –Field Meander Method2. Two Field Method3. Exaggerated Battered Method4. Strip Differential Method

Nucleus Cytoplasm Normal ValueNeutrophils Broken into segment Small pinkish stains 60-70%

Or 55-70%Lymphocyte Closely knitted; usually

roundLight Blue 25-35% up to 40%

a)Large Immature and found rarely; Usually mistaken as Monocytes

b)Small Mature, typicalNeutrophil BANDS Younger form of

neutrophils with a C, S or horse-shoe shape appearance

2-6%

Eosinophils Has 2 lobes a large coarse reddish or orange granules

1-4%

Monocyte- Large cell in the circulation

Spongy. Sprawling with brain- like coagulation

Light gray 2-6%

Basophils Indistinct and appear burned under large

Purplish black or bluish Granules

0-1%

Criteria of a Good Blood Smear1. The thick area makes a gradual transition to the thin area (feather-like edge)2. The blood in the thin area does not extend to the end of the side3. Must have smooth and even surface4. Leukocytes must be clumping

RECOMMENDED ORDER OF DRAW FOR PHLEBOTOMY

Evacuated Tube System No. of Inversion AdditiveLight Blue 3-4 Sodium CitrateYellow 8 ACD (Acid Citrate Dextrose)Gold 5 SST (Serum Separating Tube)Red(Glass) 0 NoneRed (plastic) 5 Clot activatorLight Green 8 Plasma Separating TubeGreen 8 Sodium HeparinPurple 8 K2EDTA; K3EDTAGray 8 Potassium Oxalate