White Blood Cell Differential Test Procedures

Author: Scott A. Sheffield MS

Last update:

The white blood cell differential test is a test to determine the types of white blood cells present in the blood and their percentages.

White Blood Cell Differential Test Procedures:

  1. First, a finger is image descriptionlanced and a small drop of blood is allowed to accumulate.
Animation of the index finger being lanced and the blood accumulating.
Animation of the index finger being lanced and the blood accumulating.
Animation of the index finger being lanced and the blood accumulating.
Animation of the index finger being lanced and the blood accumulating.
Animation of the index finger being lanced and the blood accumulating.
Animation of the index finger being lanced and the blood accumulating.
Animation of the index finger being lanced and the blood accumulating.
Animation of the index finger being lanced and the blood accumulating.
Animation of the index finger being lanced and the blood accumulating.
Animation of the index finger being lanced and the blood accumulating.
Animation of the index finger being lanced and the blood accumulating.
Animation of the index finger being lanced and the blood accumulating.
Finger is lanced and blood is accumulates,
  1. A drop of blood is image descriptionplaced on one side of a glass slide.
An animation of a drop of blood being placed on one side of a glass slide
An animation of a drop of blood being placed on one side of a glass slide
An animation of a drop of blood being placed on one side of a glass slide
An animation of a drop of blood being placed on one side of a glass slide
An animation of a drop of blood being placed on one side of a glass slide
An animation of a drop of blood being placed on one side of a glass slide
An animation of a drop of blood being placed on one side of a glass slide
An animation of a drop of blood being placed on one side of a glass slide
An animation of a drop of blood being placed on one side of a glass slide
An animation of a drop of blood being placed on one side of a glass slide
An animation of a drop of blood being placed on one side of a glass slide
An animation of a drop of blood being placed on one side of a glass slide
An animation of a drop of blood being placed on one side of a glass slide
Drop of blood placed on glass slide.
  1. A second slide is gently image descriptionpushed along the surface of the first. The blood is drawn out, forming a thin smear.

Learn and test your histology knowledge from every angle with spaced repetition-style interactive quizzes.

Animation of second slide pushing blood along the surface of the first, creating a thin smear
Animation of second slide pushing blood along the surface of the first, creating a thin smear
Animation of second slide pushing blood along the surface of the first, creating a thin smear
Animation of second slide pushing blood along the surface of the first, creating a thin smear
Animation of second slide pushing blood along the surface of the first, creating a thin smear
Animation of second slide pushing blood along the surface of the first, creating a thin smear
Animation of second slide pushing blood along the surface of the first, creating a thin smear
Animation of second slide pushing blood along the surface of the first, creating a thin smear
Animation of second slide pushing blood along the surface of the first, creating a thin smear
Animation of second slide pushing blood along the surface of the first, creating a thin smear
Seconds slide pushed blood along the surface, forming a thing smear.
  1. After drying, the surface of the blood smear is image descriptionflooded with Wright’s stain for 2 minutes.
Animation of the surface of the blood smear being flooded with Wright's stain.
Animation of the surface of the blood smear being flooded with Wright's stain.
Animation of the surface of the blood smear being flooded with Wright's stain.
Animation of the surface of the blood smear being flooded with Wright's stain.
Animation of the surface of the blood smear being flooded with Wright's stain.
Animation of the surface of the blood smear being flooded with Wright's stain.
Animation of the surface of the blood smear being flooded with Wright's stain.
Animation of the surface of the blood smear being flooded with Wright's stain.
Animation of the surface of the blood smear being flooded with Wright's stain.
Animation of the surface of the blood smear being flooded with Wright's stain.
Animation of the surface of the blood smear being flooded with Wright's stain.
Animation of the surface of the blood smear being flooded with Wright's stain.
Surface of blood smear being flooded with Wright's stain.
  1. Water is image descriptionadded to dilute the stain, and the combination is allowed to remain on the slide for another 2 minutes.
Animation of water being added in order to dilute the stain.
Animation of water being added in order to dilute the stain.
Animation of water being added in order to dilute the stain.
Animation of water being added in order to dilute the stain.
Animation of water being added in order to dilute the stain.
Animation of water being added in order to dilute the stain.
Animation of water being added in order to dilute the stain.
Animation of water being added in order to dilute the stain.v
Animation of water being added in order to dilute the stain.
Animation of water being added in order to dilute the stain.
Animation of water being added in order to dilute the stain.
Animation of water being added in order to dilute the stain.
Animation of water being added in order to dilute the stain.
Water added to dilute the stain.
  1. Water is again used to gently image descriptionrinse off the stain. It is then blotted dry with bibulous paper.
Animation of water being used to rinse the stain off the glass slide.
Animation of water being used to rinse the stain off the glass slide.
Animation of water being used to rinse the stain off the glass slide.
Animation of water being used to rinse the stain off the glass slide.
Animation of water being used to rinse the stain off the glass slide.
Animation of water being used to rinse the stain off the glass slide.
Animation of water being used to rinse the stain off the glass slide.
Animation of water being used to rinse the stain off the glass slide.
Animation of water being used to rinse the stain off the glass slide.
Animation of water being used to rinse the stain off the glass slide.
Animation of water being used to rinse the stain off the glass slide.
Animation of water being used to rinse the stain off the glass slide.
Animation of water being used to rinse the stain off the glass slide.
Animation of water being used to rinse the stain off the glass slide.
Animation of water being used to rinse the stain off the glass slide.
Animation of water being used to rinse the stain off the glass slide.
Animation of water being used to rinse the stain off the glass slide.
Animation of water being used to rinse the stain off the glass slide.
Animation of water being used to rinse the stain off the glass slide.
Animation of water being used to rinse the stain off the glass slide.
Water being used to rinse off the stain.
  1. The blood smear is placed under a microscope and image descriptionexamined. One hundred (100) WBCs are counted and the percentage of each type is determined.
Animation of blood cell being examined under microscope.
Animation of blood cell being examined under microscope.
Animation of blood cell being examined under microscope.
Animation of blood cell being examined under microscope.
Animation of blood cell being examined under microscope.
Animation of blood cell being examined under microscope.
Animation of blood cell being examined under microscope.
Animation of blood cell being examined under microscope.
Animation of blood cell being examined under microscope.
Blood smear being examined under a microscope.
Table showing normal differential count: Neutrophils (50-70%), Eosinphils (1-3%), Basophils (0-1%) Lymphocytes (25-35%), Monocytes (4-6%)
Normal differential count.
1

Test yourself:

White Blood Cell Differential Quiz