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with age. The WBC of a newborn baby is 10.0 to 30.0 x 10 /L at birth. It decreases to a range of 6.0 to 17.0 x 10 /L at one
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The WBC is a useful measurement to the physician. It is utilized to indicate infection and may also be employed
to follow the progress of certain diseases and therapies. The WBC may be elevated in bacterial infections, appendicitis,
leukemia, pregnancy, hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN), uremia and ulcers. The WBC may drop below normal
values in viral diseases (such as measles), brucellosis, typhoid fever, infectious hepatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, cirrhosis of
the liver and lupus erythematosus.
Radiation and certain drug therapy tends to lower the WBC. The patients will have white cell counts performed
while receiving this treatment to ensure that the WBC does not become too low. A white cell count above 11.0 x 10 /L is 9
termed leukocytosis; a white cell count below normal is known as leukopenia. The white cell count in children usually
shows a greater variation in disease. For example, during infection, a child’s white blood cell reaches much higher
elevations than does an adult’s white cell count in response to a corresponding infection.
An individual’s normal WBC is subject to variations, being slightly higher in the afternoon than in the morning.
There is also an increase in the WBC following strenuous exercise, emotional stress and anxiety. In most laboratories an
electronic method (Automation) of counting white blood cells is used.
DISCUSSION
1. In certain conditions, such as leukemia, the WBC may be extremely high. If white cell count is above 30 x 10 /L, it is
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advisable to employ a larger dilution of blood. A platelet Unopette may be used or the blood may be diluted 1:101 (0.02
mL whole blood + 2.0 mL diluting fluid). Alternatively, a Thoma red cell pipet may be used, the blood drawn up to the 1.0
mark and diluted to the 101 mark with the white cell count diluting fluid (1:100 dilution). If the white cell count is
markedly elevated, as in some leukemias, in which it may be as high as 100 to 300 x 10 /L, a 1:200 dilution is used. This is
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accomplished by adding 0.02 mL of whole blood to 4.0 mL diluting fluid (1:201 dilution), or by drawing the blood up to
0.5 mark in the Thoma red cell pipette and diluting to the 101 mark with white count diluting fluid. The correction factor
for the dilution, however, changes accordingly.
2. Whenever the WBC drops below 3.0 x 10 /L, a smaller dilution of the blood should be used to achieve a more accurate
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count. In this situation, the blood may be diluted 1:11 (0.02 mL whole blood + 0.2 mL diluting fluid) or drawn up to the
1.0 mark in a Thoma white cell pipet and diluted to the 11.0 mark with the white count diluting fluid for a dilution of
1:10. The white cell count then proceeds as previously outlined with the appropriate correction factor used for the
dilution.
3. It is important that the diluting fluid remain free from contamination. Often, small amounts of blood collect in the
diluting fluid, causing inaccuracies and difficulties in distinguishing and counting the WBCs.
4. It is imperative that the counting chamber and cover glass be free from dirt and lint. Again, contamination may cause
inaccuracies and difficulties in counting white blood cells. (The counting chamber and cover glass should be cleaned off
immediately after completion of the count).
5. Pipets must be free of dirt and dried blood. Never leave undiluted blood in a Thoma pipet. It quickly hardens and
plugs up the pipet. Draw water or diluting fluid into the pipet and place it in a container of 10% aqueous Chlorox
solution.
6. There is an approximate 15% error for a manual WBC that falls within the normal range. It is advisable to count at
least 100 WBC on each side of the counting chamber. Generally, the more cells counted, the lower the percentage of
error.
7. The diluting fluids used for the white cell count destroy or hemolyze all non-nucleated RBCs. In certain disease states,
nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs) are present in the peripheral blood. These cells, because they contain a nucleus,
cannot be distinguished from the white blood cells. Therefore, any time there are five or more nucleated red blood cells
per 100 WBCs in a differential, the WBC count should be corrected as follows:
Corrected WBC = Uncorrected WBC x 100
100 + # of NRBC/100 WBC
8. Once the hemacytometer is filled, the counting of cells must proceed without delay. If too much time elapses, the
fluid in the chamber begins to evaporate, causing inaccuracies in the count.
VARIATION IN TECHNIQUE:
1. In leukopenia, draw blood to mark 1 and the diluents to 11; the ratio of dilution then is 1:0. In the formula followed
instead of using 20 as the dilution factor, use 10.
2. In leukocytosis, draw blood to mark 1 or 0.5 of the RBC pipette and the diluent to 101; the ratio of dilution is 1:200 (if
blood is up to 0.5) and 1:100 (if the blood is up to 1.0). Change the dilution factor accordingly in the formula.
3. If 8 big squares were used (4 in each ruled area), that means the cells were counted in 8 sq mm and the corresponding
area correction factor is1/8 and in the formula change the area correction factor to 8 accordingly or first get the average
of the counts made on the upper and lower chamber.
Correction of WBC count is done if there are 5 or more NRBC/100 red cells when examined in the blood smear.
VARIATION IN THE WBC COUNT:
1. There is an hourly rhythm of number of white blood cell. Low level is observed in the morning and goe higher in the
afternoon.
2. Food intake, moderate physical or emotional activity will cause a high increase in the number of leukocytes.
The normal range for the eosinophil count is 50 to 350 x 106/L. A low eosinophil count (eosinopenia) is
found in hyperadrenalism (Cushing’s syndrome), shock, and following the administration of
adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Increased numbers of eosinophils (eosinophilia) occur in allergic
reactions, parasitic infestations, brucellosis and certain leukemias. There may be considerable variation in the
eosinophil count over a 24-hour period, with the lowest count generally present during late morning and the
highest count present during the night (midnight and later).
There are two general methods for determining the absolute eosinophil count: indirect method (WBC
count multiplied by the percentage of eosinophils in the differential) and the direct method. The most widely
used procedure is to perform the eosinophil count
by the direct method and double-check these results using the indirect method.
Principle:
Whole blood is diluted with stain solution. The phloxine present in the diluting fluid serves to stain the
eosinophil red, the sodium carbonate and water help to lyse the white blood cells (except the eosinophils) and
the red blood cells are lysed by the prophylene glycol. Heparin, if present in the diluting fluid prevents
clumping of the white blood cells. The sodium carbonate also enhances the staining of the eosinophil granules.
Discussion.
1. A single eosinophil count may be ordered on a patient, or, the eosinophil counts may be ordered, in
conjunction with the Thorn test for adrenal cortical function This test, however, is rarely performed.
2. The indirect method for counting eosinophils is not as accurate as the direct method. Therefore, a close
correlation between the results of the two methods is not always possible.
3. Once the eosinophil count is diluted, it should be counted within 30 minutes. The eosinophils will easily
disintegrate in the diluting fluid if left diluted for too long a period of time. If the Unopette is used, the count
should be completed within 1 hour of being diluted.
4. To improve the accuracy of the direct eosinophil count at least 100 eosinophils shoud be enumerated. In
order to do this, the counting chamber may be filled and counted as many times as necessary. The C. V. of the
eosinophil count when at least 100 cells are counted is about 10%.
Diluting Fluids:
1. Phloxine – Propylene glyol, phloxine, sodium carbonate, distilled water
2. Pilot’s – same as phloxine except for the addition of heparin
3. Dunger’s – eosin, acetate, distilled water
4. Manner’s – urea, phloxine, trisodium citrate, distilled water
5. Randolph’s – phloxine, calcium chloride, propylene glycol
6. Tannen’s – neutral red, iodide solution, NaOH
7. Hinklemann’s – eosin yellow, formaldehyde, 95% phenol, distilled water
INDIRECT METHOD
Hansel stain used to stain smear for indirect eosinophil count
Stock solution 1 methylene blue in propylene glycol
Working solution 1 mix 2.5 mL of stock solution 1 with 2.0 mL of distilled water
Procedure:
1. Determine eosinophil count in the fasting state (first eosinophil count).
2. The patient is injected with 25 mg ACTH intramuscularly.
3. Determine second eosinophil count four hours after injection.
Result:
NV = second eosinophil count at least 50% below the first eosinophil count
Hypoadrenalism: No change or no difference between the first and second eosinophil count.
Differential Cell Count
The manual differential white blood cell count is performed to determine the relative number of each
type of white blood cell present in the blood. At the same time, a study of red blood cell, white blood cell and
platelet morphology is performed.
An approximation of platelets is also made. The differential and smear review should be performed
after the blood counts have been completed. In this way, examination of the smear may also be used to
double check the white blood cell count.
Obtaining an accurate manual white blood cell differential is somewhat difficult because of the fact
that the white blood cells are not always randomly distributed. For routine testing, the wedge smear is the
most widely used.
Smears that are poorly made and/or are thin will show an increased concentration of
polymorphonuclear white cells, monocytes, and large abnormal cells at the edges and tail of the blood film.
This will then cause a relative increased concentration of lymphocytes in the in the middle of the smear. It is
therefore of utmost importance that the blood film be well prepared.
The normal range for the white blood cell differential should be determined by each laboratory. During
infancy and childhood a mild lymphocytosis may be present. Adult normal values are reached by the age of 21.
In disease states, a particular white blood cell type ma arey show an absolute increase in number in the
blood. Common diseases showing an increased number of a specific cell type are:
1. Neutrophilia (absolute increase in the number of neutrophils)
a. Appendicitis
b. Myelogenous leukemia
c. Bacterial infections
2. Eosinophilia (absolute increase in the number of eosinophils)
a. Allergies and allergenic reactions
b. Scarlet fever
c. Parasitic infections
d. Eosinophilic leukemia
3. Lymphocytosis (absolute increase in the number of lymphocytes)
a. Viral infections
b. Whooping cough
c. Infectious mononucleosis
d. Lymphocytic leukemia
4. Monocytosis ( absolute increase in the number of monocytes)
a. Brucellosis
b. Tuberculosis
c. Monocytic leukemia
d. Subacute bacterial endocarditis
e. Typhoid
f. Rickettsial infections
g. Collagen disease
h. Hodgkin’s disease
i. Gaucher’s disease
3. Perform the differential cell count and, at the same time, examine the morphology of the white blood cells.
There are several counting methods used, three of which are described:
a. Using the cross-sectional or crenellation technique the white cells are counted in consecutive fields
as the blood film is moved from side to side. Counting should begin in thin area of the smear where the red
blood cells are slightly overlapping and proceed into the thicker area. However, do not progress too far into
the thick area if the white cells are not sufficiently spread for easy identification.
b. In the longitudinal method the white cells are counted in consecutive fields from the tail toward the
head of the smear. This is the ideal method if the smear is thin enough so that the white cells may be
identified all the way to beginning (head) of the smear. In this case, the strip of smear examined represents
one complete section of blood. As many strips as necessary are counted until the desired numbers of white
blood cells are counted.
c. The battlement method uses a pattern of consecutive fields beginning near the tail on a horizontal
edge; count three consecutive horizontal edge fields (moving away from the tail),
count two fields toward the center of the smear, count two fields horizontally (moving away from the tail),
count two fields vertically to the edge. Continue this pattern until the desired number of cells have been
counted.
4. Identify each white blood cell seen and record on a differential cell counter until 100 white blood cells have
been counted. If any nucleated red blood cells (NRBC) are seen during the differential count, enumerate them
on a separate counter. These cells are not to be included in the 100-cell differential count, but are reported as
the number of NRBC/100 WBC. (If any megakaryocytic cells or fragments, smudge cells, or epithelial cells are
seen, these cells should also be enumerated in the same manner as the NRBC, and reported as the
number/100 WBC).
5. Examine the red blood cell morphology in a thin area of the slide where only a few of the red blood cells
slightly overlap. Note any variations from normal and classify these irregularities as slight, moderate or
marked (1+, 2+, 3+).
6. Examine the platelets on the smear for morphology and number present using the same fields on various
parts of the smear, as in step 5 above for the red blood cell morphology, determine the approximate number
of platelets per field. A normal (wedge) blood smear (normal red blood cell count and normal platelet count)
should show approximately 8 to 20 platelets per field in this area. One method for reporting platelet estimates
is to determine the average number of platelets per field (using 5 to 10 different fields) and multiply this resu
by 20,000 (for a wedge smear) to obtain an approximation of the platelet count.
A patient with a red blood cell count of 5 x 10 /L and a platelet count of 300 x 10 /L has 30 platelets for
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every 500 red blood cells. This must be kept in mind when performing a platelet estimate and adjustments
made when the patient’s red cell count is greater or less than 5.0 x 10 /L.
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For example, if a patient’s red cell count is 2.5 x 10 /L and the platelet count is 300 x 10 /L there are 30
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platelets for every 250 red blood cells. It is therefore, helpful to know the patient’s red blood cell count
(hemoglobin or hematocrit) when performing a platelet estimate.
Discussion:
1. When reporting a manual differential white blood cell count the results are reported as the percentage of
each cell type present. Automated differential counters report the cells in percent and also as the actual
number of each cell type/L of blood (absolute count). The most accurate and also the most preferred method
of reporting is the absolute because the result is expressed in percent is a relative number and can be
misleading to the clinician. For example, a differential showing 15% monocytes with a 9 x 10 /L white cell
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count would be considered abnormal. However, if the white cell count is 1.5 x 10 /L , the actual number of
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monocytes present is within the normal range. The absolute count is calculated as follows:
Absolute number of cells/L = % of cell type in differential x WBC/L
3. When studying a stained smear, do not progress too far into the thick area of the slide. The morphologic
characteristics of the cells are difficult to distinguish in this area. Conversely, do not use the very thin portion
of the smear where the red blood cells appear completely filled with hemoglobin and show no area of central
pallor. The cells in this area are generally distorted and do not show a true morphologic picture.
4. When the white blood cell count is below 1.0 x 109/L, it may be difficult to find many white blood cells on
the stained smear. In this situation, a differential may be performed by counting 50 white cells. A notation on
the report must then be made that only 50 white blood cells were counted. (Alternatively, a buffy coat smear
may be prepared.)
5. When the differential shows an abnormal distribution of cell types (as listed below):
a. Over 10% eosinophils
b. Over 2% basophils
c. over 11% monocytes, or
d. More lymphocytes than neutrophils (except in children) a 200 cell differential may be
performed. The results are then averaged (divided by 2) and a notation made on the
report that 200white blood cells are counted.
6. Before reporting platelets as decreased, scan the slide on low power, especially the feathered edge, for
platelet clumps. Also recheck the tube of blood for a clot.
7. If the differential count shows the presence of immature granulocytic cells, this is termed a shift to the left
and may be found in such disorders as leukemias and bacterial infections. A shift to the right refers to an
increased in the number of hypersegmented neutrophils.
8. The differential is the most difficult laboratory test to learn. Learning about cells and their morphologic
features is a process that will continue for as long as you perform differentials.
9. There is relatively large range of variations in the results of the 100-cell differential count. As the number of
total cells counted increases, the amount of variability will decrease. The 95% confidence limit (±2 S.D.)
improves somewhat more remarkably when counting 200 white cells. Although the accuracy of the count
improves with a 500 or 1000 cell count, the change is not as great as seen between 100 and 200cell
differential counts.
HEMA LAB (1ST WEEK) Staining Jar/DIP method
DIFFERENTIAL WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT 1. Dip in solution with fixative (methanol) for 30
seconds
- the linear representation of the percentage of 2. Dip in solution 2 (eosin, acidic dye) for 6
the various types of leukocytes in the seconds
peripheral or venous blood, known as the 3. Dip in solution 3 (methylene blue, basic dye) for
hemogram 4 seconds
- the determination of the percentage of each 4. Dip in buffer solution / aged distilled water for
type of WBCs in the peripheral blood 45 seconds
- consists of the enumeration of the relative 5. Air dry
proportion of the various types of WBCs as
seen as stained blood smears
Lymphocyte
Monocytes
Eosinophil
Goal: 100 WBCs
- Nucleus is usually
Neutrophilic Segmenter bilobed
- Contains large, coarse,
- Nucleus is broken into reddish, or orange
segments but still granules
connected by a fine - NV of relative count: 1-
strand 3% (CU)
- Cytoplasm contains - NV of absolute count:
small pinkish granules 0-400/cu. mm.
- NV of relative count:
50-70% (CU) Basophil
- NV of absolute count 2,300-8,100 / cu. Mm
- Nucleus is usually indistinct
and obscured by the granules
- Cytoplasm contains large
Neutrophilic Band (stab / staff) purplish-black or dark blue granules
- NV of relative count: 0-2% (CU)
- NV of absolute count: 0-100/cu. Mm
o Most are prepared in methyl alcohol to
combine fixation and staining
o Includes Giemsa and Wright’s
✓ Giemsa stain is recommended and
most reliable procedure, excellent
for staining thin and thick blood
films (inclusion bodies and
intracellular parasites as well as for
staining WBCs)
- It is composed of eosin and
azure blue, methylene blue
Staining of Blood Smears in methanol and glycerin.
- The microscopic study of stained, peripheral The eosin component
blood smear constitutes the most important stains the parasite nucleus
part of routine haematological examination red while the methylene
- Cytochemical stains are essential for the blue component stains the
identification of hematopoietic cells cytoplasm blue.
- The most commonly used stains are ✓ Wright’s stain is a histologic stain
polychrome stains, those belonging to the that facilitates the differentiation
Romanowsky group of blood cell types.
- A polychrome stain is a stain of many colors - It is classically a mixture of
and the original polychrome stain was eosin azures and oxidized
discovered by Romanowsky methylene blue dyes.
- Polychrome methylene blue and eosin stains - It is used primarily to stain
are the outgrowth of the original time- PBS, urine samples, and
consuming Romanowsky method and are bone marrow aspirates
widely used which are examined under
- They stain differently most normally and light microscope
abnormal structures in the blood o Panoptic stains – consists of
- Intravital stain is used to stain the tissue by a Romanowsky and another dye to
dye which is introduced into a living organism improve cytoplasmic granules
and which, by virtue of selective attraction to ✓ Examples: Wright’s-Giemsa,
certain tissues, will stain these tissues. Jenner-Giemsa, May-Grunwald-
- Supravital stain is used to stain and inspect Giemsa
living cells which have been removed from the • Methylene blue
body. It enables the cells to remain alive and o Basic dye
mobile, but it does not stain the nucleus or o Has affinity for acidic component of the
cytoplasm. It does stain significant structures cell (nucleus)
in cytoplasm (ex. Reticulocyte count)
• Eosin/azure
Various Stains for Peripheral Blood Film: o Acidic dye
o Has affinity for basic component of the
• Romanowsky Stain
cell (cytoplasm)
o Employed for staining blood films
o Combinations have two essential
ingredients (i.e., methylene blue and
eosin or azure)
Station 2 – Wright’s or Wright’s-Giemsa stain (500mL)
Staining of Two-coverglass
Other Methods of Staining
Overstained Smears
• Degenerative shift to the left – if
predominating cells are younger forms, with an Causes:
increase in band cells but without myelocytes
and metamyelocytes and it is accompanied by - Too thick smears
low WBC count. - Insufficient washing
- Too prolonged staining time
Shifting Processes - Excessive alkalinity of the stain, buffer or water
Causes:
Appearance of Cells:
Causes:
Poor Staining
Objectives:
Materials
• Microscope
• Hemacytometer
o Improved Neubauer counting chamber
o RBC pipette
o WBC pipette
• Charts of counting chambers:
o Improved Neubauer
o Neubauer
o Fuchs-Rosenthal
o Speirs-Levy
Upper right: R2
Lower right: R3
Lower left: R4
Center: R5
Objectives
Materials
• Anticoagulated blood
• WBC pipette
• 1% HCl
• Improved Neubauer Counting Chamber
• Microscope
White Blood Cell Pipette
• Thick coverslip
- The stem of the WBC pipette is the portion • Aspirator
from 0.0 to 1.0 and the mixing chamber is the • Tissue Paper
portion from 1.0 to 11
Characteristics of a Good WBC Diluting Fluid
- The volume of the stem is exactly 10 times the
volume of the mixing chamber ✓ Hypotonic solution
- Thus, the bulb holds 10 units of volume and ✓ Easy to prepare
has a white bead ✓ Cheap
- Bore is bigger than RBC pipette ✓ Good preservative
✓ Readily available the counting chamber by capillary
action. This can be achieved by placing
WBC Diluting Fluid the tip of the pipette on the space (V-
• 1%-3% acetic acid with Gentian violet shaped groove) between the coverslip
and the central platform of the
• 1% Hydrochloric acid
counting chamber. The angle of the
• Tuerk’s (glacial acetic acid with methyl violet)
pipette while charging is 30o to 35o.
Pipette method (same with RBC count)
NOTE: overcharging can be readily
Procedure observed by the presence of fluid on the
A. Preparation of diluted blood moats of counting chamber.
1. Aspirate blood up to 0.5 mark of the Undercharging is evidenced by failure to
WBC pipette cover the entire ruled area of the
2. Wipe off the excess blood at the tip of counting chamber. Air bubbles in the
the pipette with a clean piece of tissue counting chamber indicate moisture or
paper, making sure the tissue paper dirt. If such things occur, clean the
does not touch the opening of the coverslip and the counting chamber and
bore. repeat the process.
3. Place diluting fluid in clean transparent
container 3. Let the counting chamber stand for 5-
4. Immerse the pipette in diluting fluid. 10 minutes for the RBCs to settle
Use syringe aspiration to draw the 4. Locate the ruled area for RBC counting
diluting fluid up to the 11 mark with by focusing the microscope using the
constant rotation of the pipette to LPO initially. Once located, shift to HPO
ensure proper mixing of the blood and for actual counting.
the diluting fluid. This makes 1:20 or Counting
1/20 dilution
5. Gradually bring the pipette to a
horizontal position and immediately
mix the contents of the pipette. Make
sure that the pipette is held securely
using the thumb and the middle finger.
NOTE: if the diluting fluid goes beyond the 11
mark or if there are bubbles inside the bulb,
discard the mixture and start from the beginning
using a clean dry pipette
B. Filling the counting chamber (charging)
1. Place the thick coverslip on top of the • The four corner squares are further divided
improved Neubauer counting into 16 smaller squares
chamber. Both the cover slip and the • These squares are used for WBC counting
counting chamber must be free from (total = 64 small squares)
dirt, thumb marks, tissue strands and • Count the WBCs on the first row of the smaller
the like. squares from left to right, drop down to the
2. Reshake the pipette. Discard the first 5- second row and count from right to left then to
6 drops of diluted blood from pipette the third row counting from left to right, and
and carefully and exactly fill or charge
lastly the fourth row counting from right to White Blood Cells
left.
- Blood cells that fight infection
NOTE: WBCs that touch any of the lines on the top - Elevated: leukocytosis (infections, common
and left borders, even if they are outside of the cold, tuberculosis, allergy, glandular fever)
tertiary square, are included in the count while - Decreased: leukopenia (anaphylactic shock,
those that touch any of the first lines on the right cirrhosis of liver, disorders of spleen,
and bottom borders are not included even if they pernicious anemia, typhoid and paratyphoid
are inside the square. fevers, viral infections)
Computation
Other Methods
Introduction
• Pilot Eosinophil Count
• Absolute eosinophil count is the number of eosinophil
• Direct Eosinophil count by Friedman
in 1mm3 of blood.
Diluting fluids
Materials
Phloxine
• Anticoagulated blood
• WBC pipette Composition
• Randolph’s diluting fluid
❖ Propylene glycol -hemolyze RBC
• Aspirator
❖ 1% phloxine - stains eosinophil only
• Tissue paper
❖ 10% Sodium carbonate - lysis of other WBC
• Microscope
(accentuator)
• Improved Neubauer counting chamber
• Thick cover slip Pilot
Composition (2)
❖ Phloxine
❖ Propylene glycol
❖ Sodium carbonate
❖ Heparin or sodium citrate
Computation
100
= 𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑥
9
Duke’s Method
Cleanse the earlobe or the 3rd or 4th finger with 70%
isopropyl alcohol and allow to dry
Make a relatively deep puncture with a sterile blood - Sphygmomanometer then inflate until 40 mmHg then
lancet and start timing the vein will be visible, then it can be punctured
Blot the blood using filter paper every 30secs - Two incisions are made and the time for clotting to
- Note – do not allow the filter paper to touch the occur is recorded
wound as this will hasten the bleeding time. Copley-Lalitch Method
Stop timing as bleeding ceases and record the bleeding Cleanse the fingertip with alcohol and allow it to dry
time Make a puncture to a depth of 6mm. Start timing
- Normal value – 2 to 4 minutes Immerse the punctured finger in sterile physiologic
saline solution warmed at 37℃ until the bleeding stops
Ivy Method Record the bleeding time
Apply a sphygmomanometer cuff on the patient’s upper Normal value – < 3 mins
arm. Inflate it at 40mmHg. Maintain the pressure during
the entire procedure Discussion
Cleanse an area on the polar surface of the forearm with There is a minimal to no scarring at the incision site
70% alcohol and allow it to dry. The selected area should The aspirin tolerance test may be useful in helping to
be free from visible veins distinguish functionally abnormal platelets from normal
Make three successive punctures in the form of a platelets. Bleeding times are performed before and 2
triangle to a depth of 2-3mm using a disposable lancet. hours following ingestion of 650 mg aspirin. The BT after
Start timing aspirin ingestion is usually slightly longer
Blot the blood with filter paper at 30-second interval In von Willebrand’s disease, however, the BT after
until the bleeding stops aspirin ingestion will be more markedly prolonged
Record the time when the bleeding stops When performing a bleeding time on infants using
Normal value – 1 to 7minutes Surgicutt newborn, the blood pressure cuff should be
maintained at 20mmHg for children weighing less than
2 pounds, at 25mmHg for body weights bet 2 and 4
pounds and at 30mmHg when the infant weighs over 4
pounds