Encyclopedia of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants

MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF BLOOD

AIM

To study the RBCs and note their morphological changes in isotonic saline, hypotonic saline and hypertonic saline.

APPARATUS:

Glass slides, cotton, spirit, sterile needle, normal saline, hypotonic saline and hypertonic saline.

Isotonic saline is 0.9% of sodium chloride. This solution has the same osmotic pressure as that of blood. Hence called normal or physiological saline. Any concentration below 0.9% sodium chloride is hypotonic and any concentration above 0.9% sodium chloride is hypertonic.

Examination of fresh blood

PROCEDURE:

Take a clean glass slide. Sterilise the finger tip using a piece of cotton dipped in alcohol. Prick the finger tip using a sterile lancet. Place a small drop of blood on the glass slide. Put the coverslip and examine it under the microscope. First examine under low power objective. Then shift to the high power objective.

Blood in isotonic saline

PROCEDURE:

Take a drop of isotonic solution on a clean glass slide. Add a small drop of blood to the isotonic solution. Mix and put a cover slip. Examine under high power objective of the microscope.

Blood in hypotonic saline

PROCEDURE:

On a clean glass slide take a drop of hypotonic saline solution. Add a small drop of blood to it. Mix and put the cover slip. Examine under high power of the microscope.

Blood in hypertonic saline

PROCEDURE:

On a clean glass slide mix a small drop of hypertonic saline with a drop of blood and examine under the high power of microscope.

Observation & Result: