PATH2100 Fall 2023
Blood Lab
NOTE: This is a two-week long lab. During Week 1, you will learn how to conduct and interpret
Complete Blood Counts, and learn how to create a blood smear with blood samples we will provide to
you. During Week 2, you will learn about White Blood Cell morphologies, and use the blood smears you
created during Week 1 to do a Differential White Blood Cell count. Be sure to bring this lab to BOTH
Week 1 and Week 2.
Objectives:
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To understand what a complete blood count (CBC) is.
To be able to perform numerous parts of the CBC, including analysis of hematocrit, total protein,
and differential White Blood Cell (WBC) counts.
To learn how to recognize various types of cells seen on a routine blood smear.
To create (and eventually analyze) blood smears made from provided blood samples.
To understand basis of blood typing and perform a simple blood typing test.
Introduction to Blood Cells and Blood Proteins
The purpose of this lab is to familiarize you with the many types of cells and proteins that are found
within blood. Your blood is a major connective tissue of the body, and is responsible for supplying
tissues with oxygen, transporting white blood cells around as they scout out and fight off infections, and
for delivery of numerous important proteins sites around the body. Blood is made up of two major
parts: the cellular component, which includes red and white blood cells, and the liquid component,
known as plasma, which contains a large number of proteins.
Your blood is mostly comprised of Red Blood Cells, or Erythrocytes (H), which possess a characteristic
biconcave “donut-like” shape. In some species, these cells are “crenated,” and possess small spike-like
projections from their surface (as you’ll see later in this lab). Erythrocytes contain the protein
hemoglobin, which binds oxygen in the lungs for transport to tissues and binds CO2 in tissues for
transport back to the lungs.
Hemoglobin, Oxygen, and Dissociation Curves
One of the most important functions of blood is the delivery of oxygen to the various tissues of the
body. Hemoglobin, a major protein found in Erythrocytes (red blood cells, RBCs), plays an enormously
important roles in this process. Hemoglobin is a protein with a very high affinity for oxygen and, to a
lesser extent, carbon dioxide. As RBCs circulate through the blood vessels of the lungs, oxygen diffuses
into the blood stream, into the RBCs, and binds to hemoglobin. It is then carried via the blood to the
various tissues of the body, where certain kinds of signals (namely the relative acidity of the blood)
trigger for hemoglobin to release the oxygen. Once this happens, the hemoglobin will be free to pick up
CO2, a major byproduct of cellular metabolism, from that tissue and transport it back to the lungs for
release and removal from the body.
An Oxygen-Hemoglobin Dissociation Curve is a type of graph used to plot the proportion of hemoglobin
in the blood that would be in its saturated oxygen-carrying state based on the partial pressure of oxygen
at a given time. It gives an approximation of the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood in a given tissue at
any point in time. As the curve is heavily influenced by the availability of oxygen (the partial pressure of
O2), the amount of hemoglobin we might expect to be saturated with O2 will change greatly depending
on the tissue in question.
Certain environmental conditions can change the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen. For example,
decreased temperature, decreased partial pressure of CO2, and more basic blood pH levels increase the
affinity of the hemoglobin for oxygen, and cause a so-called Left Shift. Increased partial pressure of CO2,
increased temperature, and more acidic blood pH favor a decrease in the oxygen affinity, and cause a
so-called Right Shift. These conditions vary from tissue to tissue, and help to control hemoglobin’s
ability to transport oxygen and CO2 around the body.
Blood Proteins
Blood contains a number of different kinds of proteins, or plasma proteins, which are soluble in the
liquid fraction and provide a range of different functions. We will discuss a few of these in lecture and
lab. These include the Complement proteins, Immunoglobulins, proteins involved in maintaining
oncotic pressure, and proteins involved in clotting blood. Broadly speaking, these proteins will fall into
two categories: those that are involved in immunity, and those that are not.
Non-immune-related Proteins
Albumin (also often called Serum Albumin) is the most common protein found in blood. Its job is to
help maintain oncotic pressure (a special type of osmotic pressure regulated by proteins in the blood) by
binding various proteins and ions found in the plasma. Low Serum Albumin (also called
hypoalbuminemia) can be an indicative of liver disease, malnutrition, and kidney disease. High serum
albumin (also called hyperalbuminemia) is usually a sign of dehydration.
Damage to blood vessels must be repaired if an injured individual is going to heal (or survive, for that
matter). The process of blood clotting, which is responsible for the closure of such wounds, is incredibly
complicated and beyond the scope of this lab activity. Briefly, wound closure involves a number of key
actors: Platelets (G), Clotting Factors, and a number of accessory proteins. Platelets are small nonnucleated cells produced from multinucleated giant cells. They contain a number of proteins that allow
them to stick to one another and to proteins exposed on damaged tissues, which helps them to close
openings in damaged vessels. A number of proteins will associate with platelets during this process,
including fibrin, thrombin, and numerous others, most of which are products of the activities of
enzymes known as Clotting Factors. These pathways can differ based one whether you’re looking at
clotting in a test tube or in a living animal. Most of these factors are present in the blood at all times,
and are activated by certain wound-specific signals and proteins.
Notably, these proteins also define the difference between two major blood liquids that you will need to
know: Plasma and Serum. Plasma is the liquid portion of blood which contains all proteins, including
those related to clotting activities. Blood collected in a regular test tube will clot on its own at room
temperature, so collection of plasma requires the use of chemicals known as anticoagulants, which
prevent the clotting of blood by interfering with the activity of the clotting proteins. Many of these
anticoagulants function by inhibiting or binding calcium ions, which are required for many steps of the
clotting pathway. Examples of some common anticoagulants include EDTA, heparin, and sodium
citrate.
On the other hand, Serum is the liquid portion of the blood minus the proteins required for clotting.
Serum is often obtained by collecting blood without an anticoagulant, allowing the blood to clot, and
then spinning down the sample to deposit the clot at the bottom. The liquid portion that is left in the
tube still contains many other types of proteins, but will not contain those responsible for clotting, as
they were “used up” in the clotting process.
Immune Cells
In addition to your red blood cells, your blood also contains many white blood cells, which are
responsible for defending you from microbial infections. White blood cells are referred to as leukocytes,
which fall into 2 major categories: granulocytes and agranulocytes.
Granulocytes are a class of cells which contain protein-rich granules within their cytoplasm, and include
neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils. Agranulocytes do not contain these protein-rich granules, and
include cells like monocytes and lymphocytes.
Granulocytes
Neutrophils (C) possess irregularly shaped nuclei which typically comprise 2-5 lobes, and utilize their
intracellular protein-granules to help them kill bacteria. These cells are named for the fact that they
stain a “neutral” pinkish color under H&E stain. They are cells of the innate immune system, and make
up the majority of leukocytes found in the blood of most mammals. Abnormally elevated levels of
neutrophils are typically an indicator of a bacterial infection.
Eosinophils (E) also possess irregular shaped nuclei, which typically have 2 to 3 lobes. The granules of
eosinophils are highly acidophilic, and therefore pick up the stain “Eosin” very well, causing them to take
on a darker pink color under H&E stain. Eosinophils are cells of the innate immune system, and are
involved in immune responses to parasitic infections, but are also major components of allergic
responses in mice and humans. They represent a very small fraction (1-3%) of leukocytes in healthy
mammals, and elevated levels are typically indicative of a parasitic infection or allergic reaction.
Basophils (B) are the least common type of leukocyte found in the blood of healthy mammals,
representing less than 1% of circulating cells, and are part of the innate immune system. They are large
cells containing many protein-rich granules which stain dark blue (“basophilic”) under H&E stain. These
granules are so large and stain so dark that they often block view of the nucleus of the cell. Their
granules contain many inflammatory proteins, including histamine, that are released during infections or
allergic reactions and contribute to the inflammation of tissues.
Agranulocytes
Monocytes (F) are the largest of all white blood cells that possess a very large nucleus, often pushed off
to one side of the cell. These cells are immature precursors of macrophages, a type of phagocytic cell of
the innate immune system. Monocytes can also be precursors to some types of dendritic cells, which are
specialized phagocytes and antigen presenting cells which act as sentinels in tissues, keeping an eye out
for foreign microbes throughout the body.
Lymphocytes (D) include cells of the adaptive immune system, your B and T cells, and are round in
shape with a single large, circular nucleus within the cell. These cells tend to be smaller than many of the
cells we’ve discussed, and stain a very dark blue due to the nucleus taking up most of the intracellular
space. This prominent nucleus often results in students mistaking lymphocytes for a basophils, but
lymphocytes make up a much larger proportion of leukocytes in the blood than do basophils.
Immune-related Proteins
Immunoglobulins, more commonly referred to as Antibodies, are possibly the most important proteins
of adaptive immunity. Antibodies are proteins produced by B cells and which very specifically bind to
structures on foreign molecules, or antigens, which induce an antibody-based immune response.
Antibodies can bind antigens on microbes, allowing for neutralization, or “blocking,” of important
microbial proteins which may inhibit infection. Antibodies also enable opsonization, which is the process
of “decorating” microbes with antibodies, complement proteins, or both, ultimately making it easier for
phagocytic cells to grab onto and destroy the microbes.
Immunoglobulins come in 5 different forms: IgM, IgD, IgG, IgA, and IgE. Each of these different forms
have different roles in immune responses, and have slightly different structures. Three forms are
‘monomeric’ (IgG, IgD, and IgE), and have two antigen binding sites each (can bind two separate antigen
molecules at once). One form is dimeric (IgA) and one is pentameric (IgM), and thus have 4 and ten
binding sites each (see figure below). Pentameric IgM is often the first type of antibody produced during
an infection, while IgG, IgE, and IgA are more “mature” antibody types and arise from specialized
activities of B cells.
Complement proteins are a family of proteins involved in innate immune responses, but can assist with
adaptive immune responses through their interactions with antibodies. Through a number of different
mechanisms, these proteins can stick to the surface of bacteria, where they attract immunoglobulin
proteins (a process called “complement fixation,” and a crucial part of opsonization), induce
inflammation, and form Membrane Attack Complexes (MACs). All three of these processes can help the
immune system kill bacteria.
The Structure of Different Antibody Subclasses
A Brief Introduction to Allergy
Interestingly, IgE appears to play a very important role in allergic responses, and this is due to an
interaction between IgE and certain types of immune cells. Many immune cells have receptors on their
surface that can grab onto antibodies and attach them to the cell. Some immune cells, including
eosinophils, basophils, and another type of cell called a mast cell (which we haven’t discussed), have
receptors for IgE that are incredibly effective at grabbing IgE out of the blood and sticking it to the cell.
These receptors are so good that IgE makes up a miniscule fraction of all antibodies found in the blood,
because most that is produced ends up stuck to immune cells. Certain types of molecules, including
pollen, pet dander, bee venom, and certain foods, can be misinterpreted as dangerous foreign
compounds by the immune systems of certain individuals. When this happens, IgE antibodies specific to
that substance can be produced by B cells to help fight the nonexistent foreign invader. IgE produced by
these B cells will get rapidly picked up by eosinophils, basophils, and mast cells. The first time your body
encounters this substance, when the B cells produce that IgE, is called sensitization. If you encounter
that substance again, and the IgE stuck to the surface of those cells recognizes the substance, it triggers
those cells to immediately release inflammatory chemicals, including histamine, bradykinin, and
leukotriene, into their surroundings, causing a very intense inflammatory response. In some individuals,
this inflammation can be so severe that it causes constriction of the trachea, swelling of blood vessels,
and a rapid drop in blood pressure, known as anaphylactic shock, which can be fatal if not treated
quickly. All of these factors combined help to explain why some individuals are incredibly allergic to
things like bee venom or peanuts.
Blood Typing and the Importance of Donor-Matching
Self/Non-self recognition underscores all immune responses, and operates on a system not dissimilar to
name tags. All cells in a given organism’s body display that organism’s “name tag” in the form of certain
surface proteins, called self-antigens. During development of the animal, immune cells that
inappropriately respond to self-antigens are eliminated before they become dangerous to the host – the
immune system of an individual does not try to attack cells bearing its own name tags. Interestingly, the
self-antigens present on blood cells can differ between individuals of a given species. This is important,
because blood from one individual (X) may lack self-antigens that are present on blood cells of a second
individual (Y). Thus, X retains the immune cells that dangerously respond to self-antigens on Y, because
the name tags are slightly different. Defining the set of self-antigens on an individual’s blood, and thus
compatibility of blood between individuals, is the basis of blood typing.
The blood type of an individual is based on the self-antigens displayed on RBCs. In some species, there
are few blood types (cats have 2 types; A and B) and in some there are many (dogs have over 15 types).
This lab will use synthetic human blood to demonstrate the concepts of blood typing. Humans have 4
major blood types, with an additional sub-type for each of the major types. The major human blood
types are A, B, AB, and O, and refer to the presence of A antigen, B antigen, or both on the RBC surface
(for A, B, and AB types) or the absence of A and B antigens (for the O type). Additionally, the presence of
“Rhesus Antigen” (Rh) is indicated with a plus (+), and absence of Rh is noted with a minus (-).
The physical tests used for blood typing are actually rather simple, and use reagents already discussed in
this unit and lab. At their most simple, blood typing kits include antibodies known to react with the
surface antigens of a specific blood type. When blood from your individual of interest is mixed with a
specific antibody (one which binds A antigens, for example), one of two things will happen. 1) The RBCs
lack the specific self-antigens (here, A antigen) and are not bound by the test antibody, or 2) RBCs
express the specific self-antigen (again, A antigen) and are bound by the test antibody. In the absence of
binding in 1), the test blood continues to look like blood. When specific binding occurs in 2), the two
antigen binding sites on each antibody will bind on one or two RBC, causing a crosslinking and clumping
of RBC in the test. Thus, a positive test result (i.e. RBC contains the specific self-antigen) will be clumped
(i.e. ‘agglutinated’) and a negative result (i.e. RBC lacks the specific self-antigen) will continue to look like
regular blood.
If the immune system of an individual is to be exposed to blood from another individual, say in the case
of a blood transfusion during surgery, it is incredibly important that the antigens displayed by the
donor’s RBCs match the antigens of the recipient’s RBCs. Non-type-matched blood, displaying foreign
surface antigens, will stimulate an immune response in the recipient against the blood of the donor,
leading to immune killing of the transfused RBCs, which can be deadly for the recipient.
Complete Blood Counts and some Important Diagnostic Terms
A Complete Blood Count (also called a CBC) is one of the most commonly performed basic hematology
techniques. It consists of:
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Hematocrit (also known as a Packed Cell Volume, or PCV) which measures the percentage of
Erythrocytes (Red Blood Cells, or RBCs) in a volume of blood. PCV can be used to analyze many
things. For example, a very low PCV might indicate that a patient has anemia.
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A determination of Total Protein (usually given in units of mg/dL), which measures the protein
levels of the plasma portion of the blood. Blood plasma typically contains many proteins,
including: serum albumin, immunoglobulins, clotting factors, protein-based hormones,
complement proteins, and more. A low total protein level may indicate blood protein loss from
any one of a number of sources, including gastrointestinal parasitism or renal disease. Elevated
total protein can be associated with dehydration, excessive immunoglobulin in the blood, or
other disorders.
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Total White Blood Cell Count (usually given in units of #WBCs per mL of blood), which measures
the number of white blood cells per unit volume of blood. An elevated WBC count may indicate
an infection.
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A Differential White Blood Cell Count, which counts the number of the specific types of WBCs
present in a blood smear. Differential White Blood Cell Counts are done on blood smears, where
RBCs and Platelets can also be analyzed to identify possible abnormalities. Usually, these counts
are done by counting 100 WBCs and then converting the number of each type of cell into a
percentage. The proportion of each type of WBC present can change dramatically during
bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections.
Lab Goal: Students will be assigned Blood Sample A, B, or C, each of which comes from a different
animal. Using baseline data provided by TAs, as well as their Complete Blood Counts, students will
attempt to determine which animal their sample came from.
Week 1
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TA demonstration of creating a blood smear and creation of hematocrit tubes.
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Prepare and read Hematocrit (PCV) using hematocrit tubes and centrifuge.
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Utilize a refractometer to measure total protein concentrations in blood plasma
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Prepare, fix, and stain blood smears for use next week.
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Fill out relevant information in results sheet.
Week 2
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TA demonstration of total WBC count using a hemacytometer. Note: Students will not use
hemacytometers, but will be expected to know what a hemacytometer is, what its function is,
and how to get a total WBC count per mL using a hemacytometer.
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TA introduction to WBC morphology
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Conduct a Differential White Blood Cell Count on stained blood smears from Week 1.
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Familiarize students with various tube types for blood collection, including information on
various anticoagulants used in various types of tubes.
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Hands on Blood-typing practice
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Hand in results sheet.
Procedure
Week 1
1. Watch TA demonstration of creating a blood smear and use of hematocrit tubes. TAs will also
demonstrate how to read PCV using the charts provided.
2. Obtain your blood sample from a TA. Using this blood sample and the techniques you saw in
the TA demonstration, prepare 2 hematocrit tubes.
a. Briefly, orient your hematocrit tube with the red line closer to your hand. Hold the tube
parallel to the ground and dip the opposing end into your blood sample (carefully, so as
to avoid spilling the blood out of the tube.)
b. Allow capillary action to fill the tube up towards to red line. Do not let the blood pass
the red line. Once your tube is appropriately filled, remove it from the blood, but keep it
parallel to the ground, so that the blood will not leak out of the tube.
c. In a quick and controlled motion, seal the end of the tube with clay by tilting the tube
perpendicular to the ground (upright) and pushing the end of the tube that does not
have the red line into the clay block. Clay blocks will be provided on the bench at your
station.
3. Place your hematocrit tubes in the centrifuge with assistance from a TA. Write down the
number of the slots you placed your tubes in.
a. Ensure that the clay-sealed end of the tube faces the outside of the centrifuge.
4. While your hematocrit tubes are spinning, prepare a thin blood smear using the techniques
demonstrated to you at the beginning of lab and outlined below. This may take several tries,
and that’s alright! Preparing blood smears takes practice! Label your best 2 slides using your
last name and section number, as well as your sample letter. Allow your smears to dry for 10
minutes.
a. Briefly, using a hematocrit tube filled with blood, dab a small drop of blood onto a slide
just past the frosted end, in the center (see diagram below).
Slide 1
b.
Using another slide oriented at a 45-degree angle to the first (see diagram below),
touch the edge of the blood with the end of slide 2, and “wiggle” it slightly to draw the
blood under the slide (See next page for diagram).
Slide 2
Slide 1
c. In one continuous, controlled movement, push slide 2 across the surface of slide 1 to
spread the blood across the slide. Doing this well will take multiple attempts for most
people but the end result should look like the diagram below.
Slide 1
d. Once you’ve obtained a successful blood smear, allow the slide to dry on the bench for
at least 10 minutes.
5. Retrieve your hematocrit tubes from the centrifuge. Read your sample’s Packed Cell Volume
using the charts provided. Record this data in your results.
a. Within your spun-down hematocrit tube, there will be an area of packed red cells
pelleted towards the bottom, and an area of faint yellow liquid (and in some cases a
small white area) above those packed red cells. This area of packed red cells is the
packed cell volume. To measure it, slide the tube across the chart (keeping the base
lined up with the x-axis) and identify the value at which the top of your packed cell
volume aligns with the curve of the graph.
6. Using your second tube and a tool called a refractometer, you will now measure total protein in
the clear plasma fraction.
a. Identify where on your second tube the packed cell volume ends and the plasma portion
of the blood (the yellow-ish liquid) begins.
b. Carefully break your tube somewhere within this yellow plasma region. Your goal is to
collect this plasma, so be sure to break the tube in a spot that will leave some yellow on
either side of the break point. If you’re unsure about this step, ask a TA for assistance.
c. Invert the tube over the sample surface of the refractometer. Allow the liquid to drip
onto the surface. Do not tap the hematocrit tube on the surface of the refractometer, as
the broken glass will scratch and damage the refractometer.
d. Gently close the door over the sample surface. Slamming the door down will splatter
the sample off of the refractometer, limiting your ability to measure your sample’s total
protein.
e. Aim the refractometer at a light source. The lights in the ceiling of the classroom will do
just fine. Look through the viewfinder of the refractometer and identify the point where
the blue and white boxes meet one another. The values on the scale to the right side of
the image represent total protein. The values on the scale towards the left and middle
measure specific gravity, which we will not use in this lab. Record your total protein
value on the lab activity sheet. Use the diagram on the next page.
A Refractometer Field
The grey area at the top will appear
blue in the refractometer.
Along the right side of the field, we
see a measure of total protein level.
We obtain this value by reading the
point at which the white area and
the blue area intersect. In this
example image, the specific gravity is
about 9grams/100mL.
7. Fix and stain your blood smears using the stain sets provided. After allowing your stained slides
to dry, place them in one of the slide folders for your section.
a. You will stain your slides with the Kwik-Diff stain kit provided to you. This kit has 3
different parts. Part 1 is a fixative, which will adhere your cells to the surface of the
slide. Part 2 contains Eosin, which will stain protein within the cell pink. Part 3 contains
Hematoxylin, which stains nuclear material a dark blue. This type of staining procedure
is one of the most common stains used in histology, and is known as an H&E stain.
b. To stain your cells, begin by holding your slide by the frosted end and dip it into part 1
five times, for about 1 second each time. Remove your slide from the stain and tap the
end of the slide on a paper towel. Do not rub the slide or tap the side with the blood
smear on the paper.
c. Next, dip your slide into part 2 five times, once again about 1 second each time. Tap
the slide on paper to remove any excess stain, as done in step b.
d. Proceed to part 3, again dipping the slide five times, for about 1 second each time. Tap
the slide on paper to remove any excess stain, as done in step b.
e. Finally, invert your slide, so that the frosted side faces down, and very gently run a
small amount of water from the sink over the back of your slide. This will wash off
excess stain to allow easier viewing of the slide on the microscope. It is important that
you use a very small amount of water that is running very slowly. If you turn the sink up
too high and run the water too quickly, you risk washing away the smear you’ve worked
so diligently on all lab.
Week 2 Procedure
2) Watch TA introduction to WBC morphology. This information will be critical to your understanding
of Differential WBC counting, which will be the main focus of this week’s exercise.
3) Retrieve your stained blood smear slides from a TA.
a. Using the image in the introductory section, identify 100 white blood cells based on their
morphology. Convert the absolute number of cells you count into a percentage, and record
it in your results section.
4) Look around at the various types of tubes used to collect blood samples. Understand the
difference between a tube with an anticoagulant and one without, and think about situations where
one might be a better fit than the other.
a. Fill out the questions on the last page related to anticoagulants.
5) Using the data you collected this lab and the reference data sets provided by the TAs, try to identify
which species your blood sample likely came from. Record this information on your lab sheet.
6) Complete the Blood Typing Exercise by using the following procedure
a. Using the dropper vial, place one drop of one sample of your choosing (A thru D) in each well of
the blood typing slide (ensuring that you use the same sample for each well). Be sure to close
the cap on the vial after use.
b. Add one drop of anti-A serum (blue liquid) to the well labeled A. Close the cap on the vial after
use.
c. Add one drop of anti-B serum (yellow liquid) to the well labeled B. Close the cap on the vial after
use.
d. Add one drop of anti-Rh serum (clear liquid) to the well labeled Rh. Close the cap on the vial
after use.
e. Using the appropriately colored mixing sticks (blue stick for A, yellow for B, white for Rh) mix the
serum and blood present in each well. Each stick should only be used for one well, and not
reused.
f.
Examine the resulting mixture. If the mixture is uniform in appearance, there is not
agglutination, and therefore the blood type does not match the type of serum present in that
well. If the mixture has a granular appearance, agglutination has occurred and the blood type
matches that type of serum. Agglutination in the Rh well is considered positive for Rh, and no
agglutination is considered negative. Record the blood type of your sample as well as the sample
letter in your answer sheet.
Name: ___________________________________________________
NetID (ABC12345): _________________________________________
Date:_______________________ Section Number: ______________
This sheet is to be handed in at the end of Week 2. Be sure to enter all data you collect in this sheet!
Blood Smear
Sample ID Letter: _________
PCV (Packed Cell Volume): ____________
Total Protein: __________
Differential White Blood Cell Count:
Neutrophils: ______________
Basophils: ______________
Eosinophils: ______________
Lymphocytes: ___________
Monocytes: ______________
Was your RBC morphology normal? Y/N: ____________
Did you see Platelets? Y/N: _______________
Based on the Data provided and your investigations the past 2 weeks, your sample (Letter ______) is
most like sample ___________ (See list provided).
Blood Typing
Blood Sample: __________
Well A Agglutination Y/N? _________
Well B Agglutination Y/N? _________
Well Rh Agglutination Y/N? _________
Based on the above, the patient’s blood type is most likely __________
What happens in agglutinating wells that gives the well its distinctive appearance?
What is the difference between Serum and Plasma?
What does an Anticoagulant do, and when might it be useful to use a tube with an Anticoagulant?
What is an example of a commonly used anticoagulant in a blood collection tube?
What does hematocrit measure? Briefly explain how we measure hematocrit.
A patient has blood work done, and it is found that they have an abnormally low Packed Cell Volume
(PCV). What common blood condition is this often associated with?
What are antibodies? What cells produce antibodies?
Matt is using his hemacytometer in lab, loads 10uL of his sample, and counts 150 cells in his 25 boxes.
How many cells does he have in each milliliter of his sample? (Show your math).
Draw each of the 5 classes of antibodies (aim for accuracy, not artistry). List at least 1 defining
characteristic of each antibody (size, shape, role, etc.). NOTE: you do not need to include IgD.
A patient arrives at the clinic with an unknown medical condition. A blood test is done, including a
differential WBC count, and it is found that the patient has elevated levels of neutrophils, as well as
higher than average levels of IgM and IgG. What might be the cause of the patient’s condition?
Draw a sketch of each type of White Blood Cell that was discussed in this lab. List a few defining
characteristics of each cell type (what is its role, what might help you identify it in a differential WBC
count, etc.)