Bellerry C.

Bernante
BSMT 3C
HEMATOLOGY: MODULE 4 ACTIVITY (WBC STUDIES)
TOPIC 1: WBC MATURATION SERIES AND ITS NORMAL AND ABNORMAL
MORPHOLOGY/VARIATION
Activity 1: As a student, if you are not feeling well what do you usually do? And how do
you overcome such condition?
When I’m feeling unwell, I just usually rest and eat foods that I like such as comfort food, drink
medicine, and lots of water to keep me hydrated. I sleep on time so that my body can handle and
heal on its own.
Activity 2: Reflections
Cells of the immune system (Part I - granulocytes)

I have learned from the video about our Immune system is said to be a collection of cells,
molecules, tissue, and organs that serve as defense against infection caused by foreign bodies.
The immune cells are known as Leukocytes, which came from the Greek word leukos which
means white and kytos which means cells hence the name White Blood Cells or WBC. This type
of cells is found in the blood circulation, lymph, and in the bone marrow where they are
produced. WBC are grouped based on the presence of granules in their cytoplasm. Granulocytes
are those with granules while Agranulocytes are those with none. Granulocytes are distinguished
from Agranulocytes based on their nuclei which are irregular-shaped, apart from having
granules. And they are distinct from each other based on the color of the granules in their
cytoplasm. Basophils came from the Greek word basis which means base, and philein which
means to love. Basophils are responsible for allergic responses. Eosinophils is a type of WBC
which can actually move out of the circulation to the tissues to fight off infection caused by
parasites, additionally, it also helps fighting allergies. Neutrophils or Polymorphonuclear
Neutrophils are the most abundant type of WBC in the blood, responsible for fighting off
bacterial infection.

Cells of the immune system (Part II – agranulocytes)

Based on the video, Agranulocytes are distinguished from granulocytes based on their
cytological features like having only one nucleus, and the cytoplasm appears uniform under the
microscope. There are of two kinds which are the Monocytes and Lymphocytes. Monocytes
came from the Greek word monos which means single, and cyte which means cell. The nucleus
is said to be kidney or bean-shaped. They are the largest kind of Agranulocytes and are
phagocytic in nature. They also differentiate into a different kind of cell called Macrophages.
Macrophages from the Greek word macros which translates to as large, and phagein which
means to eat. Macrophages are also of two types. Fixed and Free Macrophages. Free
macrophages are motile and roams the tissue whereas Fixed macrophages are Fixed in the tissue.
Fixed macrophages are named according to where they are in the body organs. Tissue
macrophages, Alveolar macrophages, Microglial cells, Mesangial cells, Kupffer cells, and
Osteoclasts are some examples. Dendritic cells are star-shaped cells found in skin and mucous
membranes, and are phagocytic cells. Lymphocytes came from the latin word lympho which
means lymph, and cyte which means cell. Lymphocytes are classified according to its size. Large
lymphocytes are called Natural Killer cells. Small lymphocytes are either B lymphocytes or T
lymphocytes.

White Blood Cell Identification/WBC practice/Under microscope

According to the video, Red blood cell or erythrocytes is said to be the most numerous of
them all and are pretty much simpler to other cells when it comes to morphology. RBC is a
biconcave cell, unnucleated, and filled with hemoglobin inside its cytoplasm. While White blood
cells are less numerous in numbers and are categorized according to its cytoplasmic granules.
Those without granules are called Monocytes and Lymphocytes, whereas with those granules are
called Neutrophils which contains multi-lobe nuclei, Eosinophils which contains bi-lobed nuclei,
and Basophils.

Make a concept map on granulocytes and agranulocytes

TOPIC 2: BLOOD SMEAR, ROUTINE AND SPECIAL STAINS, AND DIFFERENTIAL

COUNTING
ACTIVITY 1: Give 3 words that describe the following.
Blood Smear
 Thick
 Tongue-shaped
 Thin
Stain
  Pigment
 Color
 Bright
Differential Count
 Measurement
 Test
 Differentiates
Activity 2: Reflections
Making a blood smear

The video that I have watched explains the procedures in making a blood smear. It starts
with ensuring that the slide is free from grease and dirt by using alcohol. Next is to take a little
sample of blood using a capillary tube. Place the blood sample at either end of the slide. Then,
use the hand that is less comfortable to hold the slide. For the actual spreading, use the dominant
hand. When using a spreader slide, position the spreader at a 45-degree angle in front of the
slide. Allow it to spread by drawing back into the blood. Push the spreader slide forward
smoothly to create the smear. Finally, let it air dry.

Diff Quick Staining

The video that I have watched demonstrates the diff quick procedure. Diff quick is
actually a group of stains that's a commercial or proprietary name but is actually just
Romanowski seams there's many different generic or off-brand types of diff clips available to
you as a general practitioner. They use diff quicks to stain blood smears as well as cytological
specimens such as mass aspirants, urine sediment, ear swabs etc. The diff quick staying solutions
are comprised of three different solutions the first is our methanol solution, the second is our
eosin solution and the last is our methylene blue solution. The methanol is used as a fixative, as
an alcohol uses a fixative. The eosin gives the sample that red or pink staining characteristic and
then the methylene blue provides that purple or blue is staining to our samples. This solution is
most commonly used for both blood smears and cytological specimens such as looking at mass
aspirates, looking at vaginal cytology etc. There is no need to heat fix the samples prior to using
the staining solution as that's the purpose of the methanol is to fix it to the slide. The first step is
to take the slide and to dip it into the Aqua or first solution which is the methanol for 30 seconds.
Next is to remove it from the methanol solution dab the excess off the base of the slide and move
it into the eosin solution without rinsing it in tap water and leave it there for another 30 seconds.
After 30 seconds has elapsed you'll once again dip the excess eosin off of the slide and move it
into the final solution which is the methylene blue for an additional 30 seconds. Once it has sat
for 30 seconds you'll remove it from the methylene blue solution or third solution and run it
under tap water to get the excess solution off of the slide.

Total Leukocyte Count/ TLC Blood Test Procedure/ Total WBC Count Experiment
 According to the video that I have watched, the materials needed are the following; 90%
ethyl alcohol, sterile cotton, cover slip, needle, Neubauer’s chamber, WBC pipette, and WBC
diluting fluid or Turk’s fluid. The alcohol, needle, and sterile cotton are only used for specimen
collection. The blood sample should first be collected and inserted into the WBC pipette up to
the 0.5 mark. The blood should then be quickly diluted with the Turk's fluid by adding it to the
pipette up to the 11 mark. The glacial acetic acid in Turk's fluid fixes WBC while destroying
RBC. For three to four minutes, roll the pipette to mix the contents. The Neubauer chamber is a
special apparatus designed to measure RBC and WBC. The cover slip used in this procedure is a
special type of cover slip design for the Neubauer’s chamber. The Neubauer's chamber should
have the cover slip on it. Discard the first two sample drops. Carefully pour the liquid into the
Erythrocyte counting chamber under the coverslip. Wait three to four minutes for the mixture to
settle. Then use the microscope to observe. For counting WBC, use the 10x objective/LPO.
Count only the WBC located at the four corners of the square. Use the formula for counting the
number of WBCs.

Total Leukocyte Count

Based on the video that I have seen, Total leukocyte count is a blood test used to measure
the number of white blood cells and its types. The samples are taken by pricking via capillary
puncture or whole blood in an EDTA tube. Since the blood contains thousands of white blood
cells, it is nearly impossible to count them all. For this reason, the blood sample has to be diluted
in an WBC pipette with Turk’s fluid before counting. The dilution is 1:20 and use a formula for
counting. There are two types of pipettes used for counting blood cells. One is the RBC pipette
used for counting RBC and WBC pipette used to count leukocytes. The diluting fluid is Turk’s
fluid which contains Glacial acetic acid which lyses RBCs, and Gentian violet that dyes the
WBCs giving it the deep violet black.

Explain the Importance of Total Leukocyte Count

Total Leukocyte count is significant since this test allows the physician to determine the
normal functioning of the patient’s immune system by looking at the percentage of the white
blood cells. The shift or change in the normal number of the different types of white blood cells
may indicate different diseases like infection and allergic reaction. By knowing which leukocyte
type is abnormal in number, the physician can give an educated guess of what condition or
disease the patient may have.