Preferred Specimen(s) 2ml whole blood in EDTA vial, slide (1 fresh smear)
Instructions Place the slide carefully in the slide box after the smear is dry.
Transport Container EDTA vial (lavender-top) tube, slide box
Transport Temperature Room temperature, stable 48 hours
Reject Criteria Received frozen; broken slide
Methodology Microscopic Examination
Clinical Significance The peripheral blood smear may be useful to describe morphologic abnormalities and leukemias.