Blood Smear
Alternate Names : Peripheral Smear
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What do Abnormal Results Mean?
Red cell abnormalities such as size, shape, hypochromia (lack of color), polychromatophilia (multiple colors), rouleaux (nonspecific coating by serum globulins) are determined. Some abnormalities may be graded on a 4 point scale:
- 1+: 25%
- 2+: 50%
- 3+: 75%
- 4+: 100% of cells affected
The presence of target cells may indicate:
The presence of spherocytes may indicate:
The presence of elliptocytes may indicate hereditary elliptocytosis. The presence of schistocytes may indicate:
The presence of normoblasts may indicate:
The presence of burr cells (echinocytes) may indicate:
- Artifact (induced result) from specimen preparation
- Uremia
The presence of spur cells (acanthocytes) may indicate:
The presence of teardrop cells may indicate:
- Myelofibrosis
- Leukoerythroblastic anemia
- Thalassemia major
- Severe iron deficiency
The presence of Howell-Jolly bodies may indicate:
The presence of Heinz bodies (with crystal violet stain) may indicate:
- G6PD deficiency
- Congenital hemolytic anemia
- Unstable hemoglobin variant (unstable form of hemoglobin)
- Alpha thalassemia
The presence of reticulocytes (more than 2% of total red cells; seen with special stain) may indicate hemolytic anemia or hemorrhage. The presence of basophilic stippling may indicate: The presence of sickle cells may indicate sickle cell anemia. Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:
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