Final answer:
The ideal blood smear technique results in an even smear across 25% to 50% of the slide. This allows for the systematic counting and identification of white blood cells to evaluate the health of the blood. Hematocrit levels and erythrocyte proportions are also measured to detect abnormalities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ideal blood smear technique results in a blood smear that is evenly distributed across 25% to 50% of the stationary slide. When preparing a blood smear, it is important for proper diagnostic evaluation that the smear not cover the entire slide, but rather this specific range to allow appropriate analysis under a microscope. Scanning the smear systematically, as with the use of a grid pattern, is crucial to identify and count white blood cells, measure hematocrit levels, assess the proportion of erythrocytes (PCV), and determine the overall health of the blood sample. The relative number of each type of white blood cell is ascertained by counting up to 100 cells and calculating their percentage, thus helping to identify any abnormalities in the blood smear.