Dr Piyush Tailor

THIN SMEAR:
• Take a clean & dry slide
• Transfer a small drop of blood near the edge of the slide
• Place a spreader slide at angle of 30 degree, pull back the spreader until it touches the drop of blood. Let the blood run along the edge of the spreader.
• Push the spreader forward to the end of the slide with a smooth movement.
• Dry the blood smear at room temperature.
• By using a lead pencil, write ID number on slide

THICK SMEAR:
Place a small drop of blood on the slide
• Spread the drop out with another slide to cover an area about four times its original area.
- The correct thickness for a satisfactory thick film will have been achieved if, with the slide placed on a piece of newspaper, small print is just visible.
• Allow the film to dry at least 30 minutes at 37 degree C before staining.

FIXATION ON THIN SMEAR:
• Fix the thin smear by dipping in methyl alcohol for 1-2 second.
• Dry the film after fixing in methyl alcohol.