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Seema Dawood: Difference Between CBC Smear Staining and Cell Counts Staining
Jul 29, 2026, 17:41

Seema Dawood: Difference Between CBC Smear Staining and Cell Counts Staining

Seema Dawood, Medical Laboratory Technologist at The Aga Khan University Hospital, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Difference Between CBC Smear Staining and Cell Counts (Body Fluid ) Staining

CBC (Complete Blood Count) Smear Staining

  • Uses Romanowsky type stains (e.g., Wright, Giemsa, Leishman).
  • Contains methanol as a fixative and produces a metallic sheen when properly stained.
  • Purpose: to clearly visualize cell morphology, including red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets.
  • The metallic sheen indicates good staining quality and proper fixation.

Cell Count Smear Staining (e.g., CSF, body fluid, or urine sediment)

  • Uses buffered solution (such as phosphate buffer) or diluted stain.
  • Buffer is added until the preparation appears almost clear, providing a clean background for better visualization of cells.
  • Purpose: to count and identify cell types, not to examine detailed morphology.
  • Does not produce Metallic Sheen; staining is lighter and more transparent.

Summary

  • CBC smear: Metallic Sheen, emphasizes morphology.
  • Cell count smear: clear/transparent, emphasizes cell number and identification, not morphology.”Seema Dawood: Difference Between CBC Smear Staining and Cell Counts Staining

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