Phlebotomy Chapter 8: Laboratory equipment

Blood smear

A drop of blood smear across a glass slide used for microscopic examination

Centrifuge

A machine used to spend specimens at a high rate of speed to separate their components

DIFF-SAFE blood dispenser

A small device that attaches to the rubber stopper of a blood tube to aid and safety dispensing of a small drop of blood to a glass slide

Most commonly used machine in phlebotomy

Centrifuge

Important thing to note when loading the centrifuge

Balance tubes, evenly by placing tubes of equal size and volume directly opposite each other

Vein viewer

Point of care device used to help phlebotomy technicians locate veins

Blood smear

A laboratory technique in which a blood sample is smeared across the glass slide in preparation for microscopic examination

Important maintenance

• Rapid result device

• Microscope

• Centrifuge

Rapid result devices

Designed to deliver quick test results at the patient’s bedside or an outpatient setting

If done correctly, a blood smear will have what type of edge?

A feathered edge