Using light microscopy the morphology, colouring and consistency of red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC) and platelets can be determined. Various diseases associated with abnormalities in blood cells, such as haemoglobinopathies, anaemias, leukaemias etc., can be initially diagnosed from the film, however, further biochemical analysis is required.
The first image was taken at 400x magnification showing that the vast majority of cells found in peripheral blood are red blood cells, with only a few (3 in this image) white blood cells present. Further magnification at 1000x was used in the remaining images. There are several types of WBCs present in peripheral blood and tissues, with each type having its own distinct characteristics (morphological) that makes them different from the other types.
The images show the larger size of WBCs compared to RBCs and the presence of the nucleus (big purple object in the middle of the cell) which is absent in RBCs. The morphology of the nucleus, as well as the colour of the cytoplasm, can help in determining the type of WBC. In the second image, 3 WBCs are present. The one on the left being a polymorphonuclear (no fixed structure of the nucleus) eosinophil, as the cytoplasm contains several vesicles containing cytotoxic chemicals (granules) that are coloured slightly red from the dye and the nucleus has a non-fixed shape. The cell on the top right has a uniform big circular nucleus and low cytoplasm/nucleus ratio, suggesting that this cell is a lymphocyte. The right bottom cell has a nucleus with irregular shape and contains some vesicles/granules with the cytoplasm being almost colourless, suggesting that the cell is a polymorphonuclear neutrophil, the most abundant WBC in peripheral blood. The small purple dots that appear in the image in-between cells are platelets (fragments of cells that help in the coagulation process). The 3rd image shows a lymphocyte and a neutrophil and the last image 2 neutrophils, all surround by RBCs and platelets.
