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Measurement of erythrocytes on diagnostic slides by scanning electron microscopy
1Department of Pathology, Kalvin Electron Microscope Laboratory, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, New York 10021, USA.
Objective:
To determine whether the measured sizes of erythrocytes in both paraffin-embedded sections and air-dried blood smears differ from values published in standard texts.
Study Design:
Routinely prepared surgical pathology slides as well as an air-dried blood smear were viewed with a scanning electron microscope. Erythrocytes were measured using the instrument software.
Results:
Erythrocyte size in the peripheral blood smear correlated well with textbook values, 7.2-7.9 microns. However, red blood cells within sectioned material from several laboratories showed a prominent decrease, ranging from 25% to 35%, as compared to textbook values, about 7 microns.
Conclusion:
Since cytologists and surgical pathologists often use the erythrocyte as a convenient marker on diagnostic slides, attention should be given to these observations in making sizing judgments.