The sample in the first syringe is quickly delivered into a watchglass or onto a slide. After the technologist verifies the presence of white-gray marrow particles in the sample, push smears and/or coverslip smears from this unanticoagulated sample are made immediately. All films should be rapidly air dried. The appearance of fat as irregular holes in the films also give the assurance that marrow and not just blood has been obtained. This type of smear is referred to as a direct smear and is usually used to evaluate morphology. Although some evaluation of cellularity and M:E ratio is possible, particle smears or biopsy sections provide a more accurate representation of these factors.
