The articles with scientific writing

[pjaneczek]

Hi friends!

I work at a microbiology laboratory and English isn't my first language. I have to write short and formal comments on the system.

I struggle to put the determiners in the right place in this comment:
'_clotted sample received. Unsuitable for _cell count. White blood cells were determined from _Gram stain.'

Do I need the articles in this comment or not? And most important why?

Thank you.

[Joe]

Hi friends!

I work at a microbiology laboratory and English isn't my first language. I have to write short and formal comments on the system.

I struggle to put the determiners in the right place in this comment:
'_clotted sample received. Unsuitable for _cell count. White blood cells were determined from _Gram stain.'

Do I need the articles in this comment or not? And most important why?

Thank you.

If I understand the comment, I would say no, the main reason being that the whole thing is abbreviated. If you're cutting verbs you might as well cut determiners.

The third part stands out. It probably could be:

White blood cells were determined from a Gram stain.

OR

White blood cells determined from Gram stain.