What does a smear prepare for?

A smear is a laboratory technique used to prepare a sample for microscopic examination. This process involves spreading a thin layer of a specimen—such as blood, tissue, or other biological materials—onto a glass slide, allowing the sample to dry, and then often staining it to enhance visibility under a microscope. The main goal of this preparation is to enable pathologists or lab technicians to assess cellular characteristics, identify abnormalities, and conduct diagnoses based on visual analysis.

While blood analysis and histological studies can involve smears, they usually are specific forms of microscopic examination. For example, a blood smear allows for the assessment of blood cells, while a histological study examines tissues, often requiring more complex processing rather than just a simple smear. Chemical testing, on the other hand, involves analyzing the chemical composition of substances without the focus on microscopy. Thus, "microscopic examination" is the most fitting and accurate interpretation of what a smear prepares for.