Pipette:
A Pipette is a tool used in to dispense a measurable quantity of blood. Various pipettes are used in hematology which includes RBC & WBC pipettes, Hemoglobin pipette etc. Here we will understand the differences between RBC & WBC pipettes and their various uses.
RBC ( Red Blood Cell) Pipette
1. What is the other name of RBC/WBC pipette used to make dilutions of whole blood?
Thoma pipette
2. Describe the RBC Pipette
RBC pipette has red bead in the bulb and it has marking of 0.5, 1 and 101.
3. What is the role of red bead in RBC pipette?
Helps in identification of pipette
Helps in mixing of diluting fluid and blood
To ensure dryness of pipette: Free mobility indicates a dry pipette
4. What are the other uses of RBC pipette?
It is used wherever higher dilution is required Eg; High total leukocyte count and total sperm count
5. Name the diluting fluid used for RBC count
Hayem’s fluid, Dacie’s fluid
6. What is the dilution used in RBC pipette?
1:200
7. What is the volume of blood the RBC pipette delivers
It delievrs 20ul or 0.02 ml of blood.
8. What is the composition of Hayem’s fluid
Hayem’s fluid: a. Sodium chloride -0.5 gm
b. Sodium sulfate -2.5 gm
c. Mercuric chloride -0.25 gm
d. Distilled water – 100 ml.
9. What is the composition of Dacie’s fluid:
Dacie’s fluid:
a. Trisodium citrate – 3 gm.
b. Formalin – 1 ml.
b. Distill water – 99 ml.
WBC ( White Blood Cell) Pipette
1. Describe the WBC Pipette
WBC pipette has white bead in the bulb and it has marking of 0.5, 1 and 11.
2. What is the role of red bead in WBC pipette?
Helps in identification of pipette
Helps in mixing of diluting fluid and blood
To ensure dryness of pipette: Free mobility indicates a dry pipette
3. What are the other uses of WBC pipette?
It is used wherever higher dilution is required Eg; High total leukocyte count and total sperm count
4. Name the diluting fluid used for WBC count
Turk’s fluid
5. What are the composition of Turks fluid and mention their role?
Glacial acetic acid – lyse the RBC
1% Gentian violet- stain the WBC nuclei
6. What are the other uses of WBC pipette?
It can be used for eosinophil count, platelet count, sperm count. Cell count in CSF, pleural / ascetic fluid and RBC count in severe anemia
7. Why one drop of fluid from WBC/RBC pipette is discarded?
Diluting fluid in the nozzle is not mixed with blood, hence a drop of fluid will be discarded
8. How to clean the pipette?
Cleaned by filling the pipette with distilled water and blowing it out twice. Finally, it will be filled with acetone and blown out. Acetone removes the water from it and dry it completely
9. What is the dilution used in WBC pipette?
1:20
