Preparation and staining of blood smear

1. Clean the tip of the finger or ear with methylated spirit or ethanol.
2. Prick with a needle.
3. Discard 1st drop. Take the second drop onto a corner of a clean dry glass slide.
4. Make a thin uniform smear with another slide.
5. Dry in the air.
6. Fix in absolute ethanol.
7. Immerse slide in Giemsa's stain (Dilute 1 part in 10 parts of buffered saline) for half an hour.
8. Wash with buffered water (pH 7.2) and dry.