Making and staining blood smears
TLDRThis instructional video script focuses on the art of creating high-quality blood smears for CBC tests, which are often challenging. It emphasizes the importance of using well-mixed EDTA tubes and bevel edge slides, avoiding common mistakes like the 'Olympic ski jump' and 'race car rev' techniques. The script offers practical tips, such as filling the tube three-quarters full and using gravity to ensure a medium-sized blood drop. It also covers the correct spreading method, proper labeling, and staining process, concluding with the necessity of submitting slides, even if imperfect, due to cell deterioration over time.
Takeaways
- 🧪 Ensure a well-mixed, unclouded EDTA tube for accurate blood smears.
- 🚫 Avoid shaking the tube vigorously to prevent clots that could affect platelet count.
- 🔍 Use an applicator stick to check for clots in the sample to ensure a good sample for smearing.
- 📏 Bevel edge slides are crucial for making good blood smears and are almost impossible to achieve without.
- 💧 Start with a well-filled PCV tube to get a decent size drop for the smear; avoid too small or too large drops.
- 🙅♂️ Avoid common mistakes like the 'Olympic ski jump technique', going too slowly, or 'race car rev' which can lead to poor smear quality.
- 👐 Don't apply pressure while spreading; hearing a grinding sound indicates too much pressure.
- 👎 Avoid pulling instead of pushing when making smears to maintain control and avoid uneven smears.
- 👁️ Keep your spreader at a 45-degree angle and anchor it properly to ensure a good smear.
- 🏃♂️ Push the spreader out as fast as possible once the blood crosses it to achieve a 'thumb-shaped' smear.
- 📦 Protect the slides by using slide containers and wrapping them before shipping to avoid damage.
Q & A
What is the main focus of the video script?
-The main focus of the video script is to teach the proper technique for making blood smears for a CBC (Complete Blood Count) test, which is often considered a difficult task.
Why is it important to have a well-mixed and unclouded EDTA tube for blood smears?
-A well-mixed and unclouded EDTA tube is important because it ensures the sample is not compromised by clots, which can affect the numerical parameters, especially the platelet count, in the CBC test.
What should you do if you suspect there might be a clot in the blood sample?
-If there is a concern about clots in the sample, you can use an applicator stick to run through the sample; clots, if present, will adhere to the stick, indicating a good sample quality.
Why is having bevel edge slides crucial for making good blood smears?
-Bevel edge slides are crucial because they allow for a better spread of the blood drop, making it almost impossible to create good blood smears without them.
What is the recommended way to fill a PCV tube for blood smear preparation?
-The recommended way is to fill the PCV tube about three-quarters full to get a decent size drop for the smear. Holding the tube at an angle can help gravity do the work if there is difficulty filling it.
What are some common mistakes people make when making blood smears?
-Common mistakes include the Olympic ski jump technique, going too slowly, the race car rev, pulling instead of pushing the spreader, applying too much pressure, and shaky slide syndrome.
What is the correct way to hold the spreader when making a blood smear?
-The correct way is to hold the spreader at about a 45-degree angle and anchor it with your index finger about 3/4 of the way down the slide.
How should you handle the spreader slide to avoid common mistakes?
-You should push the spreader out as fast as possible once the blood crosses it to about 3/4 of the way across, avoiding slow movements or pulling the spreader.
Why is it better to submit a poor slide than no slide at all?
-It's better to submit a poor slide because cells disintegrate overnight, and having any preparation is more valuable than none, as it allows for some analysis to be performed.
What should be done with the slides after they have been air-dried?
-After air-drying, the slides should be stained if you plan to examine them yourself. If sending them to a reference lab, it's best to leave them unstained.
How should you store and transport blood smear slides to prevent damage?
-Blood smear slides should be stored in slide containers, protected with bubble wrap or similar material, and not placed in envelopes alone. They should also be kept separate from each other when wet to prevent smudging.
Outlines
🧬 Blood Smear Technique Mastery
This paragraph discusses the process of creating blood smears for a CBC test, emphasizing the importance of using a well-mixed EDTA tube without clots. It highlights the necessity of bevel edge slides for effective smearing and the ideal drop size for a good smear. The paragraph also outlines common mistakes to avoid, such as the 'Olympic ski jump technique,' going too slowly, the 'race car rev,' pulling instead of pushing, applying too much pressure, and the 'shaky slide syndrome.' The correct method involves a swift, even spread of the blood drop using a spreader slide, ensuring a thumb-shaped smear for accurate evaluation.
🏅 Optimal Blood Smear Preparation
The second paragraph provides detailed instructions for preparing high-quality blood smears. It advises holding the spreader at a 45-degree angle and anchoring it with an index finger without exerting unnecessary pressure. The blood drop should be of a 'Goldilocks' size, not too small or too large. The smearing technique involves a quick push once the blood crosses the spreader, utilizing both the top and bottom of the spreader slide. The paragraph also covers the importance of submitting slides even if they are not perfect, as cells deteriorate over time. It includes tips on slide packaging and labeling, as well as the staining process for those who wish to examine the slides themselves, emphasizing cleanliness and the correct order of staining solutions from lightest to darkest.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Blood Smears
💡EDTA Tube
💡Bevel Edge Slides
💡PCV Tube
💡Goldilocks Principle
💡Olympic Ski Jump Technique
💡Spreader Slide
💡Shaky Slide Syndrome
💡Staining
💡Slide Containers
💡CBC
Highlights
Making blood smears can be fun and easy with the right technique.
Ensure the EDTA blood tube is well-mixed and unclouded to avoid affecting platelet counts.
Use an applicator stick to check for clots in the blood sample.
Bevel edge slides are crucial for making good blood smears.
Starting with a well-filled PCV tube helps achieve the right blood drop size for smears.
Avoid too small or too large blood drops for optimal smear preparation.
Demonstrates common mistakes to avoid when making blood smears.
The 'Olympic ski jump' technique can result in line preparations instead of blood smears.
Speed is important - going too slowly can cause smears to go off the slide edge.
The 'race car rev' technique wastes time and can be anxiety-inducing.
Pulling instead of pushing when spreading can lead to uneven smears.
Avoid applying too much pressure to prevent uneven smear production.
The 'shaky slide syndrome' causes wobbly smears due to lack of control.
Correct technique involves holding the spreader at a 45-degree angle and anchoring the side.
Push the spreader out quickly once the blood crosses it for a good smear.
It's better to submit a poor slide than no slide at all due to cell disintegration.
Keep blood smears separate from formalin to prevent cell damage.
Use slide containers for mailing and protect them from damage during shipping.
Label samples with animal ID, patient name, owner name, date, and requisition.
Stain smears after air-drying if analyzing them yourself, or leave unstained for reference labs.
Dip slides in staining solutions in order from lightest to darkest.
Cover stained slides with mounting media and a cover slip for protection.
Transcripts
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