A medical laboratory scientist (MLS)is examining a thin blood film from a patient suspected of having a Plasmodium infection.After examining the slide for 5 minutes and viewing approximately 100 oil immersion fields,the MLS does not observe any structures associated with Plasmodium.Which one of the following statements explains this discrepancy?
A)The stain may have been contaminated.
B)The MLS should have examined each field under high dry magnification;therefore the magnification is not correct.
C)The MLS may have missed the organism;more than 300 fields should be viewed.
D)No discrepancy is present.Plasmodium spp.are not found in blood;therefore the results are accurate.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An examination of the thin film in suspected Plasmodium infections usually takes 15 to 20 minutes ( 11ea5c86_2358_8c7b_8438_87b0d515d578_TB6072_11 5 = 300 oil immersion fields)for the thin film at a magnification of 1000×.

A Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS)is Examining a Thin Blood Film