17.6k views
0 votes
What does a normal platelet histogram look like on a Coulter counter?

A) The histogram displays a single, narrow peak.

B) The histogram shows a bimodal distribution.

C) The histogram has multiple peaks.

D) The shape of the histogram can vary widely and is not typically characterized by a single pattern.

1 Answer

1 vote

Final answer:

A normal platelet histogram on a Coulter counter typically shows a single, narrow peak, which represents the uniform size of the platelets in a healthy individual. This aligns with option A and is different from flow cytometry histograms, which can show various shapes such as bimodal distributions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to the interpretation of a platelet histogram from a Coulter counter, which is a device used in biology for differentiating and counting cells, including blood platelets. A normal platelet histogram on a Coulter counter would typically display a single, narrow peak as the platelets in a healthy individual are generally uniform in size. This characterizes option A as correct: The histogram displays a single, narrow peak.

In flow cytometry, which is another type of cell analysis technique, one would expect to see histograms that can have different shapes based on what cell characteristics are being measured. For instance, in the case of identifying CD8 T cells in a flow cytometry histogram, a bimodal distribution with two peaks might be observed, indicating two distinct populations of cells – those that express CD8 and those that do not.

User TheSteed
by
7.3k points