A Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS)is Examining a Thin Blood Film

Multiple Choice

A medical laboratory scientist (MLS) is examining a thin blood film from a patient suspected of having a Plasmodium infection.After examining the slide for 5 minutes and viewing approximately 100 oil immersion fields,the MLS does not observe any structures associated with Plasmodium.Which one of the following statements explains this discrepancy?

A) The stain may have been contaminated.
B) The MLS should have examined each field under high dry magnification;therefore the magnification is not correct.
C) The MLS may have missed the organism;more than 300 fields should be viewed.
D) No discrepancy is present.Plasmodium spp.are not found in blood;therefore the results are accurate.