Final answer:
To prepare a peripheral blood slide from a capillary puncture, collect the sample via capillary action, create a feathered edge smear on a glass slide, let it dry, heat fix, stain, and then use a microscope to identify and count white blood cells in a systematic manner.
Step-by-step explanation:
When preparing a peripheral blood slide from a capillary puncture, you must follow specific steps to ensure that the blood smear is properly prepared for microscopic analysis. Initially, blood is collected by capillary action into a small diameter glass tube. After obtaining the blood sample, create a thin film of blood on a glass slide, often termed a blood smear, with a feathered edge to allow individual cells to be seen under a microscope.
Once the smear has been made, it should be allowed to dry and then fixed, usually by heat, before being stained using a staining protocol such as a Wright's stain. After staining, the smear is ready for observation under a light microscope equipped with an oil immersion lens.
Scanning the slide, you must identify and count each type of white blood cell, aiming for a total count of 100 cells to evaluate the white blood cell populations and morphology. This scanning can be aided by using a cell counter, if available.