"Peripheral smear

Alternative names

Blood smear

Definition

A blood test that provides information about the number and shape of blood cells by visual inspection.


How the test is performed
Adult or child:
Blood is drawn from a vein (venipuncture), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The puncture site is cleaned with antiseptic, and a tourniquet (an elastic band) or blood pressure cuff is placed around the upper arm to apply pressure and restrict blood flow through the vein. This causes veins below the tourniquet to distend (fill with blood). A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. During the procedure, the tourniquet is removed to restore circulation. Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding.

Infant or young child (may also be used for adults):
The area is cleansed with antiseptic and punctured with a sharp needle or a lancet. The blood may be collected in a pipette (small glass tube), on a slide, onto a test strip, or into a small container. Cotton or a bandage may be applied to the puncture site if there is any continued bleeding.

The blood is examined under a microscope. It may be examined by a special automated "calculator", a technologist, a hematologist, and/or a pathologist. Information is obtained about the relative number and kinds of white blood cells (differential), morphological (shape) abnormalities of all types of blood cells, and a rough estimate of white cell and platelet counts. " (see ref. below)

HTH.

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Note added at 2002-06-16 20:04:34 (GMT)
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Those subtitles are pathological findings and therefore, if there are no figures in the boxes next to them, it means none of these pathological findings were present on the blood sample.