Final answer:
Fingerprints on a glass slide can adversely affect the quality of a blood smear by preventing the formation of a single layer of cells, necessary for accurate microscopic analysis. Clean, grease-free slides are crucial for reliable results, and while re-using slides is possible with proper cleaning and sterilization, new slides are often preferred to avoid cross-contamination.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fingerprints on a glass slide where a blood smear is placed can significantly affect the quality of the blood smear. The oils and residues from fingerprints can create irregularities in the smear, leading to uneven spreading of the blood. This can cause difficulties in achieving a single layer of cells, which is essential for proper microscopic examination to identify cell morphology, arrangement, and to check for any contaminants.
Therefore, it is crucial to have clean, grease-free slides for blood smear preparation. Re-using glass slides can be acceptable provided they are thoroughly cleaned and sterilized to remove all previous residues and contaminants. In laboratories, many prefer to use new slides to ensure cleanliness and avoid potential cross-contamination.
To ensure precision and reliability, slides must be completely air-dried, properly heat-fixed, and stained—preferably with the Wright-Giemsa stain—to differentiate and count various blood cell types efficiently. This process facilitates the identification of any infections by observing the characteristics of the leukocytes in the Wright-Giemsa stained blood smears.