Blood Smear Preparation Lab Report

Preparation of Blood Smear

Fathima Zaakiya Firoze BMS 15/10/11

Table of Contents

An Introduction to Blood Smear 3

What is a Blood Smear? 3

Blood Smear Preparation 4

Staining of the Blood 5

May-Grunwald-Giemsa Stain 5

Leishman’s Stain 6

Expected results 8

Reference 10

An Introduction to Blood Smear The blood is the major method of transportation within the body, providing:

• A means of movement of substances, including vital nutrients to cells.

• Assisting in removal of waste products.

• Transport of cells and protective proteins to help fight infection.

• Transport of important messages, e.g. via the use of hormones. The blood film is one of the world’s

It must be filtered before use. Staining solution II (Giemsa stain): 1g Giemsa stain powder is dissolved in 66ml glycerol and heated to 56 Celsius for 90 to 120 minutes. After addition of 66ml absolute methanol and thoroughly missing, the solution is left at room temperature in a closed container. It must be filtered before use. Buffer: Sorensen’s buffer solution. The ph must be at 6.8 for the May-Grunwald. Fig.1.4 May-Grunwald-Giemsa Stain http://i.ytimg.com/vi/GHBqhSXT-6I/maxresdefault.jpg Method

Step 1: Fix for at least 30 seconds in absolute methanol.

Step 2: Remove methanol by tilting the slide or by simply removing from the fixing jar.

Step 3: Apply staining solution I freshly diluted with an equal part of buffer for 5 minutes on a horizontally positioned slide or in a jar.

Step 4: Transfer slide from jar without washing (or remove staining solution by holding slide vertically) into staining solution II that has been freshly diluted with 9 parts buffer for 10 to 15 minutes.

Step 5: Transfer slide to jar with buffer for 1 rinse after removing stain.

Step 6: Wash slide with ample water.

Step 7: Transfer slide to a jar containing water for 2 to 5 minutes.

Step 8: Dry the slide in a tilted position, do not blot dry.

Step 9: Mount a cover glass if