Final answer:
The feathered edge of a prepared blood smear is used for counting individual cells and assessing morphologic features. Wright-Giemsa stain is commonly used for enhancing cell visibility, while a systematic method is applied for counting and identifying cell types.
Step-by-step explanation:
The region of a prepared blood smear that should be used to count individual cells and to determine the morphologic features of the cells is the region with the feathered edge. This is a very thin film of blood on a glass slide where cells are in a single layer, which is ideal for microscopic examination. This edge facilitates the counting and morphological assessment of cells. For the counting process, tools such as a cell counter can be used, and results can be recorded systematically. Staining, commonly with the Wright-Giemsa method, is used to enhance the visual contrast of the cells. The stained smears are then assessed for cell appearance and to count different types of white blood cells, and to check for any protozoal or bacterial pathogens that might indicate disease.
The region of a prepared blood smear that should be used to count individual cells and determine the represented morphologic features of the cells is the feathered edge area. When creating a blood smear on a glass slide, it is necessary to achieve a single layer of cells with a feathered edge. This allows for better visualization and examination of the cells under a microscope.