When required a stained peripheral blood smear is examined to assess leucocyte, erythrocyte and platelet morphology and numbers. Increases and decreases in any of the normal leucocyte types or the presence of immature leucocytes or erythrocytes in peripheral blood are important diagnostically in a wide variety of inflammatory disorders and leukaemia or other haematological malignancies. Red cell and platelet morphology also alert clinicians to abnormalities such as hemolysis, anemia and presence of platelet clumping, and may even detect malaria/ A blood film is made and reviewed microscopically by trained staff if:

• The FBC results meet the qualitative flags or quantitative blood film review criteria.
• Is requested by a clinician. · A manual differential is required.
• There are any other concerns whereby film review may be beneficial, e.g., the identification of storage artefact.

Some blood films may require additional review by the consultant haematologist. These films may be urgent or non-urgent. Blood Films that require immediate/urgent discussion with the consultant haematologist include those with the presence of blasts, schistocytes with thrombocytopenia, raised lymphocytosis, cytopenia and other criteria. Internal analysis is performed on a digital cell locator to facilitate remote examination by consultant haematologist. If required, the slide can be sent to the Consultant.