Question

When evaluating a peripheral blood smear for a reticulocyte count, the red blood cells are observed to overlap throughout the entire slide. the most likely explanation is:

A) grease on the slide prevented even spreading
B) improper proportions of blood and stained were used
C) the slide was dried too quickly
D) the drop used for the slide preparation was too large

Answer 1

The most likely reason for overlapping red blood cells on a blood smear is that the drop used for slide preparation was too large, leading to a thick smear where cells are not in a single, viewable layer. Therefore, the correct option is D.

Step-by-step explanation:

When evaluating a peripheral blood smear for a reticulocyte count and the red blood cells are observed to overlap throughout the entire slide, the most likely explanation is D) the drop used for the slide preparation was too large. A large drop of blood can cause the blood smear to be too thick, resulting in overlapping red blood cells. This hinders the accurate assessment of individual cell morphology, making it difficult to obtain an accurate reticulocyte count. An optimal blood smear should have a “feathered edge” where a single layer of cells is present, which allows for clearer viewing and accurate cell counting under the oil immersion lens of a microscope.