Hematology Lab: INTRODUCTION

Standard Precautions
previously called Universal
Precautions
assumes blood and body fluids of
ANY patient could be infectious
use of PPE & other infection control
PPE Personal Protective Equipment
for self-defense
Hematology Apparatus
1. Thoma pipettes white
background with blue
calibration mark
RBC red bead; (0.5, 1, 101)
volume in bulb=100
WBC white bead; (0.5, 1, 11)
Volume in bulb=10
PARTS: long stem
Bulb (with bead inside)
Short stem
2. Sahli hemoglobin pipette
- used in hemocytometer
3. Pipette Shaker for 5 mins
4. Westergren tube/pipette
- used for erythrocyte
sedimentation
5. Capillary tubes different
colored tips
represents
anticoagulant
red heparin
6.
Sealing compound
composed of clay
7.
Microhematocrit centrifuge
8.
Microhematocrit reader
Formed elements of the blood
WBCs leukocytes
RBCs erythrocytes
Platelets thrombocytes
Layers:
air
plasm
a
buff
RBC
s
clay

Hemocytometry
Process of counting the formed
elements of the blood
Counting is done either by an
electronic device or manually using
a hemocytometer
Hemocytometer or Counting
Chamber
- a specimen slide which is
frequently used
to determine the concentration
of blood
(hence the name hemo)
PARTS:
V-slash: metalized (most
preferred)
H-moat: canals
Counting chamber
Cover slip = 0.1 mm
Counting Chamber Dimensions
Improved Neubauer commonly
used
ruling
Depth = 0.1 mm
1 ruled area = 1mm2
1 large square made up of nine (9)
1mm x 1mm squares
4 corner squares divided into 16
squares for WBC count
Center of large square has 25 small
squares and each 25 small squares
has 16 small squares used in RBC
count
Counting sites
Include cells touching middle line
on top & left
Exclude cells touching middle line
on bottom & right
Middle line boundary line
WBC four corner squares (LPO)

HEMATOLOGY LAB|DBRKDS

Hematology Lab: INTRODUCTION

RBC central square: 4 corner
squares & central square (HPO)
Battlement pattern pattern of
viewing

HEMATOLOGY LAB|DBRKDS

Hematology Lab: INTRODUCTION

Capillary puncture
Efficient means of collecting blood
specimen when only a small amount
of blood is required or when the
patient has a condition which would
make venipuncture difficult
Capillary puncture sites include:
finger, heel, & earlobe
Lancets are used
Capillary blood also known as
peripheral blood
First drop of blood is wiped away
to prevent contamination with

tissue fluid, residual alcohol & to

facilitate free flow of blood
Not more than 2 mm deep puncture
because of the risk of bone injury &
possible infection
Warming the puncture site increases
the blood flow sevenfold

For hemoglobin determination:

Cyan-meth Method
Sahli-Adams Method
For hematocrit determination:
Microhematocrit
Macrohematocrit

HEMATOLOGY LAB|DBRKDS