Welcome to this online course on red cell morphology. This course is part of the Blood Count and Film Manual series.
By the end of this course, you will have a comprehensive understanding of the subject and the knowledge and skills required to practice in this field confidently.
Course details
The course will cover the following topics in detail:
Introduction to Blood Film Preparation: Understand the fundamental principles of blood film preparation, including its significance as a diagnostic tool in modern haematology laboratories.
Types of Blood Films: Learn about the different types of blood films commonly used, such as thin films, thick films, buffy coat films, and wet preparations. Each type has specific applications, ranging from general haematological assessments to specialised tasks like parasite detection.
Practical Steps in Blood Film Making: Gain detailed insights into the practical steps involved in creating a high-quality blood film, including the selection of appropriate equipment, the application of blood to the slide, and the techniques for spreading the blood to create an optimal smear.
Staining Techniques and Principles: Explore the staining process, focusing on the Romanowsky principle, which uses a combination of acidic and basic dyes to enhance the visibility of cellular components. Understand how to apply these techniques to produce clear and detailed blood films.
Manual Staining Procedures: Learn about manual staining procedures step-by-step, including the preparation of staining reagents, the proper timing and sequence of stain application, and the importance of controlling variables such as pH and stain exposure time.
Common Pitfalls and Troubleshooting: Identify common pitfalls in blood film preparation, such as the presence of artefacts due to grease, improper drying techniques, or incorrect smearing angles, and learn strategies to avoid or correct these issues.
Mounting and Preserving Blood Films: Understand the importance of mounting mediums and coverslips in preserving blood films for microscopic examination, including techniques to avoid air bubbles and ensure proper alignment of the coverslip.
Quality Control and Storage: Learn about the importance of quality control in blood film preparation, including regular checks for stain degradation and the proper storage of stained slides to preserve their diagnostic quality over time.
Future Developments in Blood Film Analysis: Explore the future of blood film analysis, including advancements in digital slide scanning and artificial intelligence.
We will use video tutorials with English captions and an end-of-course assessment that awards a certificate upon successful completion.
It is estimated this course will take you 1-2 hours to complete.
The target audience for this course are:
- Biomedical scientists/medical laboratory scientists
- Haematology trainees and consultants
- Haematopathology trainees and specialists
Your course certificate will be available for download after successfully completing the course assessment. If you have difficulty downloading your certificate, please email admin@blood-academy.com for further assistance.
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About our tutor
Dr Ali Mahdi
Dr Ali Mahdi is a Consultant Haematologist at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board in South Wales. His specialist interests include haematology diagnostics and myeloid malignancies. He co-founded Blood Academy and has a keen interest in medical education. Dr Mahdi has also acted as principal investigator in several clinical trials for myeloid malignancies and is a member of the NCRI group for chronic myeloid leukaemia.
Program Content
About Instructor
+272 enrolled Program Includes
- 5 Lessons
- 1 Assessment
- Program Certificate