If EDTA is used for bone marrow samples, how quickly must slides be made?

If EDTA is used for bone marrow samples, how quickly must slides be made?

• A. 1 hour
• B. Immediately
• C. 15 minutes
• D. EDTA cannot be used for bone marrow samples

Answer: (A)

When EDTA is used, the tissue is anticoagulated so it won’t clot, but the cells still need prompt handling to keep their appearance accurate. The main idea here is that to preserve cell morphology and obtain reliable counts on a bone marrow smear, slides should be prepared within a short, practical time frame after collection. The best-supported guideline is to make the slides within one hour. This window minimizes artifacts from cell degradation or drying and helps ensure the differential counts reflect the actual sample. EDTA is appropriate for bone marrow, so that option isn’t correct, and while immediate processing is ideal, a one-hour guideline is the standard practice to balance accuracy with realistic workflow.

When EDTA is used, the tissue is anticoagulated so it won’t clot, but the cells still need prompt handling to keep their appearance accurate. The main idea here is that to preserve cell morphology and obtain reliable counts on a bone marrow smear, slides should be prepared within a short, practical time frame after collection. The best-supported guideline is to make the slides within one hour. This window minimizes artifacts from cell degradation or drying and helps ensure the differential counts reflect the actual sample. EDTA is appropriate for bone marrow, so that option isn’t correct, and while immediate processing is ideal, a one-hour guideline is the standard practice to balance accuracy with realistic workflow.