Blood smear

Blood smear is a laboratory procedure that involves spreading a drop of blood thinly onto a glass slide and then staining the blood to view and evaluate the cells. Blood smears are used in the diagnosis and monitoring of many diseases, including anemia, infections, leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood disorders.

Procedure

The blood smear procedure begins with a clean glass slide. A drop of blood is placed on one end of the slide, and then a spreader slide is used to spread the blood across the slide. This creates a thin layer of blood on the slide, which is then allowed to air dry. Once dry, the slide is stained, typically with a type of stain called a Wright's stain. This stain allows the different types of blood cells to be seen under a microscope.

Interpretation

The stained blood smear is examined under a microscope by a pathologist or a laboratory scientist. They look at the size, shape, and number of the different types of blood cells. They also look for any abnormal cells or cell structures. The results of a blood smear can provide important information about a person's health and can help diagnose many different conditions.

Clinical significance

Blood smears are often used in the diagnosis and monitoring of blood disorders and diseases. For example, they can be used to diagnose anemia, in which there are too few red blood cells, or polycythemia, in which there are too many. They can also be used to diagnose infections, as certain types of white blood cells increase in number in response to infection. In addition, blood smears can be used to diagnose and monitor leukemia and lymphoma, as these diseases cause abnormal white blood cells to be present in the blood.

See also

• Complete blood count
• Hematology
• Medical laboratory