A-27
Appendices: Color Plates
Identify Cellular Blood Components
COL Richard Tenglin, MC, USAWhen: To identify white cells, red cells and platelets in a properly prepared peripheral blood smear slide.
What You Need: Microscope, light source, peripheral blood smear slide.
What To Do: Use the following photos and descriptions to properly identify various cellular blood
components.
- White cell differential: *Note: Figure 1
Determine the total White Blood Cell Normal
Count as directed in the Laboratory neutrophils
Procedures Section under
WBC Differential Count 8-
counts range from 4000- 12,000 white
blood cells/ml3. To determine a white
blood cell differential, a total of 100 cells
should be counted with the number of
each of the above noted as a percentage
of the total.
a. The polymorphonuclear leukocytes
(PMNs or segs) (Figure 1) are white Figure 2
cells with the nucleus appearing as a Normal lymphocytes
string of 2-5 sausage links. Normal= Note that the red cells
40-60% of the total white cell count. are about the same size
as the nucleus of
lymphocyte in the upper
left.
b. Lymphocytes (Figure 2) are round cells
with a thin rim of deep blue cytoplasm
surrounding a dark, condensed nucleus
which takes up the majority of the cell.
Normal = 20-40% of the total white cell
count. Figure 3
Normal monocytes
These are usually the
largest white cells seen
in normal blood.
c. Monocytes (Figure 3) are large cells
with a bluish-gray cytoplasm and a
nucleus often in an “M” shape.
Normal = 5-10% of the total white cell
count.
Figure 4
d. Lesser numbers of white cells with Eosinophils
large, bright red granules are called
eosinophils (Figure 4).
Normal = <5% of the total white cell
count.