Evaluation of Blood Smear

Question 1

3 parts of a blood smear

Answer 1

Feathered Edge
Body
Monolayer
Identify 3 zones on low/ medium power (x10 or x20 objective)

Question 2

What to look for in feathered edge (3)

Answer 2

Platelets clumps
Big Cells
Big Parasites

Question 3

What to look for in body (2)

Answer 3

Rouleaux
Agglutination

Question 4

What to look for in monolayer under low/medium power (3)

Answer 4

RBC density
WBC numbers
Estimated Differential

Question 5

What to look for in monolayer under medium/high power (x40 and x100(oil))

Answer 5

Platelet numbers and morphology
RBC morphology (small parasites)
WBC morphology
WBC differential count

Question 6

What is an WBC differential count

Answer 6

The proportion of white cells of each type

Question 7

How to know if monolayer is approporiate

Answer 7

Ideally less than 50% of red cells are touching one another
If dog should be able to see central pallor

Question 8

What breed to dog has larger than normal platelets

Answer 8

King Charles Cavalier

Question 9

What to assess about platelets at x40 and x100

Answer 9

Number- if >8-10 per oil immersion field, don’t expect spontaneous haemorrhage
Size- bigger ones suggest active thrombopoiesis
Activated- may be associated with inflammation