CONTROLLED DOCUMENT- DO NOT COPY

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE

Sheffield Clinical Research Facility

Performing Blood Smears

SOP History None

SOP Number CRF.L102
Created Emma Goodwin
SUPERSEDED V1.1
Version 1.2
Date 26/01/2007
Review Date 26/01/2009
Related SOPs None
Approved by Theresa Ledger

SOP CRF.L102 Version 1.2

Performing Blood Smears
26/01/2007
Page 1 of 3
 CONTROLLED DOCUMENT- DO NOT COPY

Standard Operating Procedure: Sheffield Clinical Research Facility

Performing Blood Smears

This SOP has been written to give general guidance to study personnel on how to
perform a blood smear.

Background
It is important that all staff working in the Clinical Research Facility use the same
procedure when performing blood smears. This will ensure that there is continuity
and consistency when performing blood smears.

Definition

A blood smear is a laboratory procedure for examination of a small drop of blood

spread over a glass slide. This blood test provides information about the number and
shape of blood cells by visual inspection by microscope.

Procedure

The investigator or delegated person should follow protocol specific guidelines for
blood smears or follow the procedure outlined below.

1. The investigator is responsible for ensuring that blood smears are performed
according to the study protocol. This duty can be delegated to other
appropriately qualified members of the research team as recorded on the
project delegation log.

2. The investigator or delegated person will be provided with blood slides from
the study sponsor. These can be stored within the Clinical Research Facility
laboratory, if this has been agreed at the operational group.

3. When working in the laboratory the investigator or delegated person must

wear protective clothing when performing blood smears. This may be in the
form of a uniform, a laboratory coat or a disposable apron. Laboratory coats
are available in the Clinical Research Facility Laboratory. Aprons can be
found in the investigation suite, laboratory, dirty utility, bedrooms 1 & 2, 4 bed
bay, treatment room and phlebotomy room.

4. The investigator or delegated person should wash their hands according to

STHFT Hand Hygiene Policy.

5. The investigator or delegated person should wear disposable gloves when

there is a risk of contamination. There is a supply of disposable gloves in
various sizes in the Clinical Research Facility Laboratory.

6. The investigator or delegated person must write appropriate identifiers on the

frosted end of both haematology slides using a pencil.

7. After the haematology tube is mixed the investigator or delegated person

must insert the Diff-Safe dispenser into the rubber stopper.

8. The investigator or delegated person must turn the tube upside down and
press the Diff-Safe dispenser against the slide, 0.5 cm from the frosted end.
When the drop of blood appears pressure should be discontinued.

SOP CRF.L102 Version 1.2

Performing Blood Smears
26/01/2007
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 CONTROLLED DOCUMENT- DO NOT COPY

9. The investigator or delegated person must hold the second slide at a 30o
angle, pull the slide towards the drop of blood until contact is made.

10. The investigator or delegated person must remove the Diff-Safe dispenser
and discard it into a sharps bin. A sharps bin can be found in the laboratory
in the Clinical Research Facility.

11. The investigator or delegated person must allow the droplet to draw
completely across the edge of the slide. The investigator or delegated person
must gently push the second slide forward (only allowing the weight of the
slide to be applied on the glass surface).

12. The investigator or delegated person must repeat the process for the other
side as described above. The investigator or delegated must allow the slides
to air dry thoroughly while lying flat.

13. The investigator or delegated person must return the slides to plastic mailers
for shipment.

14. The investigator or delegated person must send the samples for shipment to
the laboratory as described in the study protocol.

15. After use, the work surface should be decontaminated by the investigator or
delegated person. See STHFT Policy for the Decontamination of Hospital
Equipment & Medical Devices.

16. The investigator or delegated person should remove gloves, coats and gowns
before leaving the laboratory. Coats and gowns should be left close to the
exit. Laboratory coats should not be placed in personal lockers.

17. The investigator or delegated person should wash their hands according to
STHFT Handy Hygiene Policy after handling blood samples.

Related Documentation1

Document Name Version Creation / File path Author

Issue Date
Sheffield Infection Control http://nww.sth.nhs.uk/STHcontDocs/S STH Infection
Guidelines TH_CGP/InfectionControl/SheffieldInf Control Team
ectionControlGuidelines.doc
Sheffield Policy for the http://nww.sth.nhs.uk/STHcontDocs/S STH
Decontamination of TH_Pol/HealthAndSafety/Decontamin Foundation
Hospital Equipment and ationManual.pdf Trust
Medical Devices
STH Hand Hygiene Policy http://nww.sth.nhs.uk/STHcontDocs/S STH Infection
TH_Pol/ClinicalGovernance/HandHyg Control Team
ienePolicy.doc
Project Delegation log S:\Admin\Clinical Governance\Logs CRF
checklists and templates\Site
File\Project Delegation Log V1.0.doc
Sheffield Waste Strategy & 3.0 Sept-2008 http://nww.sth.nhs.uk/STHcontDocs/S J Watts & M
Policy TH_Pol/EstatesManagement/WasteSt Mahon
rategyAndPolicy.doc
1
Where a referenced document is unavailable electronically a hard copy may be requested from the
document’s author or by contacting Sheffield Clinical Research Facility, O Floor, Royal Hallamshire
Hospital, Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2JF, Tel: 0114 2713339.

SOP CRF.L102 Version 1.2

Performing Blood Smears
26/01/2007
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