A simple method of preparing smears from bloody effusions for cytodiagnosis

A simple method of preparing smears from bloody effusions by a microhematocrit technique is described. The nucleated cells in smears prepared by this method were located in the center of the smear in a single layer. They were not obscured by either proteinaceous precipitates or erythrocytes, and their nuclear morphology could be easily appreciated. A large number of cells with excellent morphologic preservation could thus be examined in a short period of time. These preparations facilitated the detection of abnormal cells in bloody serous effusions.