Measurement of erythrocytes on diagnostic slides by scanning electron microscopy.
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.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Terzakis
J A
JA
Department of Pathology, Kalvin Electron Microscope Laboratory, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, New York 10021, USA.
Santagada
E
E
D001801:Blood Stains; D048429:Cell Size; D003933:Diagnosis; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000097:blood