Why is it important to allow the slide to dry between steps when preparing a blood smear?

• A. To ensure the slide does not break during observation
• B. To enhance the growth of bacteria on the slide
• C. To increase the thickness of the smear for better visualization
• D. To prevent the cells from washing away during staining

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the purpose of drying the slide in blood smear preparation: drying helps fix the cells onto the slide surface, preventing them from being washed away during subsequent staining steps.
2. Recognize that if the slide is not properly dried, the cells remain loose and can be easily removed when applying stains or washing the slide, leading to poor visualization.
3. Note that drying does not affect the physical integrity of the slide itself, so it is not related to preventing the slide from breaking during observation.
4. Understand that drying does not promote bacterial growth on the slide, as the smear is intended for microscopic examination, not culturing.
5. Realize that drying does not increase the thickness of the smear; rather, it stabilizes the existing smear to maintain cell distribution for accurate microscopic analysis.