author(s)
K Rajamanickam, V Leela and T Raja

abstract
The peripheral blood smear is a frontline diagnostic tool in cytological examinations of different blood cells. An attempt was made to replace conventional method of blood smear preparation by replacing glass slides with transparent polyvinyl chloride sheets to increase the shelf-life and quality of smears. A methanol resistant transparent polyvinyl chloride sheet was used and giemsa staining technique was employed. To score the merit of this technique, conventional method of blood smear on the glass slide was also done simultaneously. Microscopic examination of transparent polyvinyl chloride sheet blood smears after six months of storage revealed high quality images of different blood cells and also, they were devoid of fungal contamination. Statistical analysis revealed high equality of variance in leucogram obtained during different months of storage. Hence it is a cost effective ideal haematological tool to increases the shelf-life of high quality smears and reduce the continuous replacement of damaged blood films.