Abstract
BackgroundGlass slide preparations from a variety of specimens (blood, masses, effusions) are commonly made as part of the diagnostic work-up, however the effects of various drying methods in veterinary practice and diagnostic laboratory settings is not clear.ObjectiveCompare the effects of four drying methods on results of microscopic examination of canine blood smears and direct smears of pleural or peritoneal effusion fluid.MethodsTwelve canine blood samples (6 from healthy dogs, 6 from sick dogs) and 6 canine peritoneal or pleural effusion samples. Four smears were prepared from each of the 18 samples and dried using the following methods: air-dry, hair dryer with or without heat, and heat block at 58 °C. Observers, blinded to the drying method, independently reviewed the slides microscopically, using a scoring system to evaluate cell morphology and (for blood smears) echinocyte numbers; scoring results were analyzed statistically.ResultsFor blood smears, several comparisons showed more adverse effects on morphology using the heat block method than for one or more other drying methods. For effusion fluid smears, RBCs dried with the heat block or air-dry methods had more poorly preserved morphology than RBCs dried by the hair dryer method without heat.Conclusions and clinical relevanceThe results (1) indicate that different drying methods had a significant effect, (2) support using a hair dryer without heat for both blood smears and effusion fluid smears, and (3) discourage using a 58 °C heat block.
Highlights
Veterinary practitioners commonly make glass slide preparations from a variety of specimens as part of the diagnostic work-up
The authors of the present study are all laboratory professionals—4 clinical pathologists board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, one of them a medical technologist licensed by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), and another ASCP-licensed medical technologist—and none of us are aware of an established protocol for slide drying
The objective of the present study was to compare the effects of four drying methods— air-drying at room temperature, use of a hair dryer with heat or without heat, and use of a heat block—on results of microscopic examination of canine blood smears and direct smears of pleural or peritoneal effusion fluid
Summary
Veterinary practitioners commonly make glass slide preparations from a variety of specimens (blood, masses, effusions) as part of the diagnostic work-up. Effects of different drying methods on smears of canine blood and effusion fluid. Glass slide preparations from a variety of specimens (blood, masses, effusions) are commonly made as part of the diagnostic work-up, the effects of various drying methods in veterinary practice and diagnostic laboratory settings is not clear. Observers, blinded to the drying method, independently reviewed the slides microscopically, using a scoring system to evaluate cell morphology and (for blood smears) echinocyte numbers; scoring results were analyzed statistically. RBCs dried with the heat block or air-dry methods had more poorly preserved morphology than RBCs dried by the hair dryer method without heat. The results (1) indicate that different drying methods had a significant effect, (2) support using a hair dryer without heat for both blood smears and effusion fluid smears, and (3) discourage using a 58 ◦C heat block
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