Laboratory Procedure #3

A technician observes a hazy sample during manual WBC counting. What should be the next step?

• Proceed with counting.

• Dilute the sample further and recount.

• Filter the sample and continue counting.

• Reject the sample and request a redraw.

During manual RBC counting, a student notices air bubbles in the hemocytometer chamber. What should the student do?

• Count around the bubbles.

• Refill the chamber to remove the bubbles.

• Ignore the bubbles and continue counting.

• Clean the chamber and reload the sample.

The WBC count in an automated analyzer is flagged as "H" (high). What is the most appropriate action?

• Report the result immediately.

• Perform manual WBC counting for confirmation.

• Dilute the sample and rerun the test.

• Both b and c.

A laboratory analyst observes clumped WBCs in a blood smear. What should the analyst check first?

• The staining quality.

• The presence of platelet clumps.

• The sample anticoagulant.

• The magnification setting.

A patient’s RBC count appears abnormally high after centrifugation. What could be a likely cause?

• Dehydration.

• Hemolysis.

• Excessive dilution.

• Leukocytosis.

While counting RBCs, a technician observes several nucleated RBCs (NRBCs). What should the technician do?

• Ignore them and count as RBCs.

• Recalculate WBC count to exclude NRBCs.

• Add them to the WBC count.

• Disregard the finding.

An automated analyzer flags a WBC count as "Low." What additional step should the technician perform?

• Perform a manual WBC count.

• Recalibrate the analyzer.

• Request a new sample.

• Ignore the flag and report the value.

After loading a sample for RBC count, the technician notices the hemocytometer chamber is underfilled. What is the best action?

• Continue counting the visible cells.

• Add more sample without cleaning the chamber.

• Clean the chamber and reload the sample.

• Report the partial count.

A laboratory professional observes rouleaux formation in an RBC smear. What condition should be considered?

• Dehydration.

• Polycythemia.

• Multiple myeloma.

• Hemolytic anemia.

During a WBC differential count, the technician identifies immature WBCs. What could this indicate?

• Leukopenia.

• Leukemia or infection.

• Iron-deficiency anemia.

• Normal finding.