A CBC is performed on a polycythemic patient. What must the laboratician do to ensure that this specimen has an optimal blood smear?

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Polycythemia is a condition where there is an increase in the number of red blood cells in the blood. In order to ensure an optimal blood smear for a polycythemic patient, the angle of the spreader slide should be decreased. This allows for a thinner layer of blood to be spread out, making it easier to visualize individual cells on the slide. Increasing the angle of the spreader slide would result in a thicker layer of blood, leading to overlapping cells and difficulty in interpretation. Staining with albumin is not necessary for a blood smear.

A CBC Is Performed on a Polycythemic Patient