MODEL RELEASED. Blood sampling. Microbiologist analysing a blood sample taken by the finger-prick method. A finger was pricked and the resulting drop of blood was smeared onto a glass slide for microscopic examination. This blood film can be stained with special dyes to make the blood cells show up more clearly. Blood films can be used to detect blood disorders such as sickle cell anaemia, and infections such as malaria, where parasites can be seen inside the red blood cells. This slide contains blood that is to be tested for malaria, which is an endemic problem in Uganda. Photographed at St. Mary's Hospital in Lacor, Gulu, Uganda.