To obtain a smear with an anemic blood sample, which technique adjustment is recommended?

To obtain a smear with an anemic blood sample, which technique adjustment is recommended?

• A. Decrease the angle of the pusher slide
• B. Increase the angle of the pusher slide
• C. Wait for drop of blood to dry partially
• D. Use a larger drop of blood

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that smear thickness and cell density are shaped by how steeply you hold the spreader slide as you pull the blood across. In a sample with few red cells (anemia), you want more cells visible in the viewing area. Increasing the angle of the pusher slide produces a thicker smear, which concentrates the cells into a denser region and makes it easier to evaluate morphology when RBCs are scarce. Decreasing the angle would thin the smear and reduce cell density even further, waiting for partial drying can introduce artifacts, and using a larger drop often leads to pooling and an uneven smear. So, raising the angle helps ensure a usable cell density for assessment in an anemic sample.

The key idea is that smear thickness and cell density are shaped by how steeply you hold the spreader slide as you pull the blood across. In a sample with few red cells (anemia), you want more cells visible in the viewing area. Increasing the angle of the pusher slide produces a thicker smear, which concentrates the cells into a denser region and makes it easier to evaluate morphology when RBCs are scarce. Decreasing the angle would thin the smear and reduce cell density even further, waiting for partial drying can introduce artifacts, and using a larger drop often leads to pooling and an uneven smear. So, raising the angle helps ensure a usable cell density for assessment in an anemic sample.