What is the typical use of a peripheral blood smear?

The typical use of a peripheral blood smear is to examine the morphology of blood cells. This technique involves spreading a thin layer of blood on a microscope slide, allowing for the visualization and evaluation of the size, shape, and arrangement of different blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. By examining these characteristics, healthcare professionals can identify various conditions such as anemias, leukemias, and other hematological disorders.

Morphological assessment is crucial because it can provide insights into the underlying pathologies affecting blood cell production, function, and overall health. For example, abnormalities in red blood cell morphology could indicate a type of anemia, while atypical white blood cells might suggest a malignancy.

Other options do not pertain to the primary use of a peripheral blood smear. Measuring blood pressure is completely separate and involves different tools like sphygmomanometers. Detecting blood type requires specific serological tests, not a blood smear, and assessing hemoglobin levels is done through hemoglobin electrophoresis or other specific assays rather than through direct examination of blood cell morphology.