PREPARING BLOOD SMEAR – Purposes, Equipment, Procedure and Blood Smear Preparation to Rule Out Malaria (COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING)
Blood smear is done by a drop of blood is received on to a clean slide. This is smeared to render a thin film of blood by placing a second slide just beyond the drop of blood and slowly drawing it forward along the first
PURPOSES
- To determine the cell count
- To find out the presence of certain parasites, e.g. malaria parasites and filarial parasites
EQUIPMENT
A tray containing
- Clean slide 2, sterile needle in a container
- Methylated spirit in a bottle
- Kidney tray or paper bag for used swabs
- Cotton swabs in a bowl
PROCEDURE
- Explain the steps of procedure
- Make the patient to sit or place in a lying position
- Wipe his finger with spirit swab
- Press the fingertip and gently prick with a sterile needle
- Allow a drop of blood to fall on the slide and quickly make the smear evenly by the edge of the second slide
- Apply a little bit of cotton on the fingertip of the patient and instruct him to apply slight pressure over it
- Send the slide with a requisition to the laboratory for examination under microscope
BLOOD SMEAR PREPARATION TO RULE OUT MALARIA
- Cleanse fingertip with spirit swab
- Prick the fingertip with Hagedom’s needle
- Press finger and allow the blood to ooze
- Discard the first drop
- Place 3 or 4 large size drops of blood on glass slide
- With the corner of another slide, mix all the first 3 or 4 drops of blood to form a large circular patch of the size of a “paisa” or coin
- Thin smear done by drop of blood taken on slide and push it straight with another slide in such a way to obtain a thin smear with a tongue shaped tip
- Place the slides to dry in air by keeping it in absolutely horizontal position
- Place the slides in a box. Protect it from dust, flies and cockroaches
