Answer to Question 1
ANS: D
When the stain or buffer it too alkaline, red cells will be gray and white cells will stain too darkly for good morphologic evaluation.
Answer to Question 2
ANS: A
When the blood film dries slowly on the slide, red cell and drying artifacts make it extremely difficult to evaluate red blood cell (RBC) morphology. Humidity adds to this problem, as does the high plasma volume found in an anemic patient. Drying the slide with a fan can be beneficial.