https://www.vetnurse.co.uk/nursing/w/vet-nurse-revision-2/595/troubleshooting-blood-smears-key-notesWelcome to the Revision Guide for Student Nurses (Part II) by Vanessa Bird VN. This guide contains notes, self-test questionnaires and practical tasks to help you through your exams (Level 2/3 NVQ, and beyond), and to use as a reference afterwards.Apren-USTelligent Community 10https://www.vetnurse.co.uk/nursing/w/vet-nurse-revision-2/595/troubleshooting-blood-smears-key-notesMon, 20 Apr 2009 12:51:12 GMT1a0763ec-3885-442c-853e-6cef656dfec5:d0b259f7-20e1-4e42-b52d-7519b309624eArlo Guthriehttps://www.vetnurse.co.uk/nursing/w/vet-nurse-revision-2/595/troubleshooting-blood-smears-key-notes#commentsCurrent Revision posted to Revision Guide For Student Nurses - Part 2 by Arlo Guthrie on 4/20/2009 12:51:12 PM<br /> <ol> <li><strong>Tails or jags at the tip of the smear</strong> <ul> <li>Too much pressure applied to the spreader. </li> <li>Edge of spreader damaged. </li> <li>Spreader lifted before end of smear. </li> <li>Spreader pushed too fast. </li> </ul> </li> <li><strong>Square tailed rather than thumb shaped smear</strong> <ul> <li>Too much time allowed for the blood to flow to the edge of the spreader. </li> </ul> </li> <li><strong>Tail of smear frayed / clumps evident</strong> <ul> <li>Autoagglutination in the red cells. </li> <li>Platelet clumps. </li> <li>Partial clotting of the red cells. </li> </ul> </li> <li><strong>Smear too short</strong> <ul> <li>Polycythaemic blood. </li> <li>Spreader angle too great. </li> <li>Spreader pushed too fast. </li> <li>Too little blood. </li> </ul> </li> <li><strong>Smear too long</strong> <ul> <li>Anaemia. </li> <li>Spreader angle too small. </li> <li>Too much blood. </li> </ul> </li> </ol><div style="clear:both;"></div>