In: Nursing
When instructing a phlebotomy student who is preparing blood smears you notice his smears are too short what should you ask him to do the next time he makes a smear?
A perfect blood smear:
Proper making of the blood smear is essential in obtaining accurate results on the differential count.
Points to be kept in mind while preparing a perfect smear:
a. Delay- smear should be made as soon as the drop of blood is placed on the glass slide without delay. The delay may result in abnormal accumulation of blood cells.
b. Use separate spreader slide for every smear to avoid carryover of patient’s blood on to the next blood smear.
c. Keep the fingers on the spreader slide as far down as possible and apply uniform, moderate pressure to the spreader slide to obtain a good smear.
The too high fingers will cause the excess pressure and result in breakage of the slide. The direction of pressure exerted on the spreader slide must be directed across the slide as in the direction that the film is made.
How to avoid too short smear.
Reference :http://www.funsci.com/fun3_en/blood/blood.htm