A reproducible blood smear review requires every peripheral smear be prepared for consistent openness and clarity. Consistency is maintained by uniform handling of every blood smear. Good results may be expected when the preparation is begun with only a small drop of blood at one end of a clean glass slide. The drop is smeared lightly and quickly so as to leave a thin (feathery) edge where all cells may be examined individually, particularly red blood cells. The site of examination then is chosen away from clumping, piling, or bumping of cells against each other, perhaps a site five or six oil fields from the end of the feathery portion. Such an area for examination is illustrated in the photograph.