PERIPHERAL BLOOD SMEAR TEST

A peripheral blood smear test is a technique healthcare providers use to examine your red and white blood cells and your platelets. Unlike some blood tests that are analyzed by a machine, healthcare providers analyze by looking at blood cells under a microscope. Your healthcare provider may order a peripheral blood smear along with a complete blood count (CBC), or if you already had CBC and it shows abnormal blood cell activity, they might order a PBS. For example, your CBC results may indicate your white blood cells, red blood cells and/or platelets appear abnormal or that you have an abnormal number of any given type of cell. A microscopic view of your cells may help your healthcare provider find out how and/or why your blood cells look abnormal or you have an abnormal number of cells. Results from a peripheral blood smear test aren’t a diagnosis. Healthcare providers make diagnoses based on your medical history, physical examination, and results from laboratory tests, like PBS.