Rapid method for the examination of platelet morphology.

A simple, rapid method is described for preparing platelets of domestic animals for light and electron microscopic examinations. The method involves the isolation of the platelet rich plasma (PRP) by centrifugation of the whole blood for five minutes followed by recentrifugation of PRP in a Wintrobe tube at 4500 rpm for 20 minutes to separate the blood components into four distinct layers composed exclusively of plasma, leucocytes, platelets and erythrocytes. A short fixation (20 minutes) by replacing the plasma layer with glutaraldehyde before breaking the bottom of the tube with a glass cutter allows the cellular contents to be gently pushed out of the tube in the form of a cylindrical semisolid pellet, with a wooden applicator stick. A further three hour fixation of the pellet in fresh glutaraldehyde before cutting out the middle layer for routine processing for light and electron microscopy provides pure preparation of platelets with a minimum of morphological distortion.