Peripheral_Blood_Smear_. Partial.pptx

Peripheral blood smear

1. Peripheral Blood Smear A Comprehensive Overview Presented by: Mohit Krishna

2. Introduction A peripheral blood smear (PBS) is a laboratory test used to examine blood cells under a microscope. It helps diagnose hematologic disorders, infections, and other medical conditions.

3. Importance & Indications • Essential in diagnosing anemia, leukemias, and infections. • Evaluates red and white blood cells, and platelets. • Helps detect abnormal cell morphology.

4. Blood Smear Preparation 1. Collect blood using EDTA anticoagulant. 2. Place a small drop on a clean slide. 3. Use a spreader slide at a 30° angle to spread the blood. 4. Air-dry the smear before staining.

5. Staining Techniques • Wright’s Stain (most common) • Giemsa Stain • Leishman Stain Staining highlights cell morphology and structures.

6. Microscopic Examination • Red Blood Cells (RBCs): Size, shape, color, and inclusions. • White Blood Cells (WBCs): Differential count, abnormal forms. • Platelets: Number, size, and granularity.

7. Normal RBC Morphology • Biconcave shape • Uniform size and color • Central pallor (about 1/3 of cell diameter)

8. Abnormal RBC Morphology • Anisocytosis: Variation in RBC size. • Poikilocytosis: Abnormal RBC shapes. • Schistocytes: Fragmented RBCs, seen in DIC, TTP. • Spherocytes: Small, round RBCs in hereditary spherocytosis.

9. WBC Morphology • Normal WBCs have a specific size and shape. • Abnormal WBCs include blast cells (leukemia), hypersegmented neutrophils (megaloblastic anemia), and toxic granulation (infection).

10. Platelet Abnormalities • Thrombocytopenia: Low platelet count. • Large platelets: Seen in conditions like Bernard-Soulier syndrome. • Clumped platelets: May cause falsely low platelet count.

11. Clinical Significance • Schistocytes → DIC, TTP • Spherocytes → Hereditary spherocytosis • Target Cells → Liver disease, hemoglobinopathies • Blast Cells → Leukemia diagnosis

12. Artifacts & Limitations • Poor smear technique can create misleading artifacts. • Delayed smear preparation alters cell morphology. • Staining errors can affect interpretation.

13. Conclusion Peripheral blood smears are an essential diagnostic tool in hematology. They provide key insights into various blood disorders and should be interpreted carefully with clinical correlation.