Importance of complete blood count in animals/blood smear and capillary tube filling
In the study of domestic and wild animals, a series of steps are highlighted to evaluate the patient, such as: anamnesis and hemogram.
As in humans, before diagnosing a pathology in animals, it is important to take into account the liquid connective tissue (blood) that extends throughout the body of the animal, to observe under the microscope all the formal elements found in it, and to express whether there are living organisms that cause any damage to the patient.
First of all, we must define what a complete blood count is.
The complete blood count is the study that expresses all the characteristics of the blood, that is to say, it shows quantitative data on erythrocytes, leukocytes and platelets, thus we will know the chemical and physical state of the blood. This study is performed when taking a patient's medical history, and is of utmost importance for definitive diagnoses.
The blood is formed by plasma and formed elements that have different functions in animals and people, among the formed elements we find:
Red blood cells or erythrocytes: They are also known as red blood cells and are characterized by being anucleated in mammals, and have nuclei in fish, reptiles and birds. They are cells in charge of oxygen transport, since they contain hemoglobin, which is characterized by its red color.
White blood cells or leukocytes: Found in the blood, they are the line of defense in the organism of animals and humans. These cells are varied and act according to the foreign agent that wants to cause damage in the animal; among the leukocytes we have neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, monocytes, lymphocytes and platelets.
When performing blood tests, the cells previously mentioned are counted, and different techniques are used according to what is to be observed under the microscope.
Blood smears are the most used to evaluate the animal, because erythrocytes and leukocytes are observed, being able to differentiate if they are granular or agranular; in the same way the smear allows us to evaluate the erythrocytes in detail, and conclude if there is presence of babesia, trypanosoma and other blood parasites.
How is a blood smear performed?
To perform a blood smear, we must have sterilized slides and coverslips, as well as blood stored in a test tube with a purple lid (with EDTA). The steps to follow are as follows:
Gently homogenize the blood
Place a drop of blood on one end of the slide (not too much).
Spread the blood with the coverslip quickly without stopping during the spreading (forming a thin layer).
It is necessary to fix the spread (with some type of fixative used in the laboratory) and then apply staining solutions and place the coverslip to observe under the microscope.
On the other hand, if we have very little blood sample and we want to observe the leukocytes, it is advisable to fill the capillary tube and then centrifuge, thus obtaining the plasma, white blood cells and red blood cells.
Why is it necessary to perform smears or capillary tube filling?
These methods help to determine pathologies, such as: Anemia (very common in pets), leukemia and others.
Recommended references
Some animals has almost the same characteristics with humans so know there blood count and factors that can affect it can also help to know what can also affect the blood count of human beings too.
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