Blood films

Question 1

when is a blood film carried out

Answer 1

Samples with significant results outside of the normal range, significant change within the normal and abnormal (either immature or unable to identify) cells highlighted by the analyser are identified

Question 2

microcytic

Answer 2

parameter: mean cell volume (MCV)

meaning small RBC

Question 3

macrocytic

Answer 3

parameter: mean cell volume (MCV)
meaning: large RBC

Question 4

hypochromic

Answer 4

parameter: mean cell haemoglobin (MCH)
meaning: pale, less Hb

Question 5

hyperchromic

Answer 5

parameter: mean cell haemoglobin (MCH)
meaning: dense, more Hb in given volume

Question 6

anisocytosis

Answer 6

increased variability in size

Question 7

dimorphisms

Answer 7

two distinct populations of red cells

Question 8

poikilocytosis

Answer 8

abnormally shaped RBC

Question 9

spherocytossi

Answer 9

spherical RBC

Question 10

eliptocytosis

Answer 10

elliptical RBC

Question 11

irregularly contracted cells

Answer 11

small dense RBC but not as regular in shape as spherocytes

Question 12

echinocytes, acanthocytes, keratocytes, schistiocytes

Answer 12

spiculated cells

Question 13

sickle cell

Answer 13

crescent or sickle shaped cells seen in sickle cell disease

Question 14

taarget cells

Answer 14

RNC with dark area int he middle of the area of central pallor

Question 15

normocytic

Answer 15

normal size

Question 16

normochromic

Answer 16

normal color

Question 17

macrocytic

Answer 17

abnormally large cells

Question 18

microcytic

Answer 18

abnormally small cells

Question 19

hyperchromic

Answer 19

densely packed Hb in the cell- appears darker than normal RBC

Question 20

hypochromic

Answer 20

less Hb in the cell- appears ligher and paler than ccells

Question 21

anisocytosis

Answer 21

variable sizes of RBC that is noticeably more than usual

Question 22

poikilocytosis

Answer 22

Variation in shape of RBC

Question 23

spherocytosis

Answer 23

RBC have a spehrical shape rather than a typical biconcave disck

Question 24

irregularly contracted cells

Answer 24

these are small dense RBC whose shape is not as regular as spherocytes, and have irregularly distributed condensed haemoglobin

Question 25

sickle cells

Answer 25

RBC are crescent (sickle) shaped

Question 26

tsarget cells (codocytes)

Answer 26

Hb is cocnentrated at the centre and the periphery of the RBC

Question 27

stomacytes

Answer 27

RBC have a pale slit in their centre, giving them a coffee bean appearance- lost biconcave shape so resemble a bowl

Question 28

schistocytes

Answer 28

RBC are fragmented

Question 29

acanthocytes

Answer 29

RBC have an irregular cell memrbane with a small number of spikey protrusions

Question 30

echinocytes (crenated cell)

Answer 30

RBC have an irregular cell membrane with a large number of regular spurs - like acanthocyte

Question 31

inclusions of erythrocytes

Answer 31

howell-jolly bodies basophilic stippling papenheimer bodies heinz bodies

Question 32

howell-jolly bodes

Answer 32

DNA or nuclear fragments present in RBCs

Question 33

basophilic stipping

Answer 33

there are RNA inclusion in the RBC

Question 34

pappenheimer bodies

Answer 34

Iron inclusions in RBC (pearl stain)

Question 35

heinz bodies

Answer 35

there are clumps of denature Hb present in RBC

Question 36

**Haemoglobin H inclusion** ​

Answer 36

Gold ball cells; denatured haemoglobin H (brilliant cresyl blue stain)

Question 37

iron deficiency: FBC and red blood cell indices

Answer 37

* **Decreased:** * Hb * MCV * MCG * MCHC * May occur in haemoglobinopathies * **Increased RDW** (more indicative of iron deficiency than thalassaemia

Question 38

iron deficiency: reticulocyte count

Answer 38

low or normal - reduced for the degree of anaemia

Question 39

iron deficiency: blood film

Answer 39

* Hypochromic * Microcytic * Pencil cells * A few target cells

Question 40

vitamin B12 deficiency

Answer 40

* Oval macrocytic * Basophilic stippling * Hyper segmental neutrophil

Question 41

platelets are very

Answer 41

reactive cells * If any clots in the sample the platelet count will be reduced * Try to citrate (green tube) sample to prevent platelet clumping