Counting rules for the counting frame

Identify the cell's unique point. The unique point can be anything visible, so long as it is unique to each cell.

Many researchers use the cell's top, but the top of the nucleus or of the nucleolus (provided that the nucleolus is unique to the cell).

The unique point must fall within your disector height (shown as green in the Z meter). The rest of the cell may be anywhere relative to the counting frame, but only the unique point matters when deciding whether or not to mark a cell.

If the unique point comes into focus while in the guard zone (shown as red in the Z meter), do not count it!
When the unique point comes into focus, place a marker on it in accordance with the rules of the counting frame.

DO NOT MARK your unique point if any area of it...

... touches the red exclusion line or is outside of the counting frame
... touches or crosses both an inclusion line and an exclusion line
... comes into focus outside of the disector height

MARK your unique point if, and only if...

... any area of the unique point is touching an inclusion line AND no area of it is crossing an exclusion line
.... or the entirety of the unique point is inside the counting frame

The gray shapes represent cell tops (the unique point), not entire cells.