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Two thick and two thin films made from finger stick blood.

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When making slides, the slides must be meticulously clean, and free from dust and grease, or the blood film may be lost during staining. Make 2 thin and 2 thick slides. Label each slide with the date, first and last name of the patient, and time of collection. To prepare thin slides, use a pusher to spread the drop across the slide in a thin film (standard hematology smear). Allow to air dry. For thick films, use the corner of a second slide, stir and spread the drop of blood until it covers an area approximately the size of a dime. While still wet, words on a printed page should be visible through the specimen. Using the same slide, lightly scratch the slide with the drop of blood. (it should make an audible scratching noise) to the wet surface. This will improve adherence of the blood film. If you have questions contact the Microbiology Department

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Slides and EDTA (lavender top) tube should be transported to the lab within one hour.

Room Temperature

If slide is made

• Room Temperature = 7 days
• Refrigerated = 7 days
• Frozen = unacceptable

Sample in EDTA

• 1 hour at Room Temperature or Refrigerated
• Frozen = Unacceptable.

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Specimen in EDTA may be collected when it is not possible to collect finger stick blood. Thick and Thin smears MUST be made within one hour of sample collection.

EDTA that is more than 1 hours old. Frozen specimen