Blood film findings

Question 1

What is anisocytosis?

Answer 1

A variation in the size of red blood cells

Seen in myelodysplastic syndrome and types of anaemia

Question 2

What are target cells?

Answer 2

RBCs with a central pigmented area surrounded by a pale area

Seen in iron deficiency anaemia and post splenectomy

Question 3

What are Heinz bodies?

Answer 3

Individual blobs (denatured haemoglobin) seen inside RBCs

Seen in G6PD deficiency and alpha thalassaemia

Question 4

What are Howell-Jolly bodies?

Answer 4

Individual blobs of DNA material seen inside RBCs

Seen after splenectomy or in patients with a non-functioning spleen, and severe anaemia

Question 5

What are reticulocytes?

Answer 5

Immature RBCs

Question 6

What are schistocytes?

Answer 6

Fragments of red blood cells

Question 7

What are sideroblasts?

Answer 7

Immature RBCs with a nucleus surrounded by iron blobs

Question 8

What are smudge cells?

Answer 8

Ruptured white blood cells

Associated with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

Question 9

What are spherocytes?

Answer 9

Sphere-shaped RBCs without bi-concave disc shape

Seen in hereditary spherocytosis or autoimmune haemolytic anaemia