Heme Lab Flashcards
Normal peripheral blood smear
cell on top = normal trilobed neutrophil
black arrow = lymphocyte: small cell, very little cytoplasm, round nucleus about the same size as RBCs
-Note: RBC w/ normal pink pallor (normal Hb concentration) and normal central pallor (due to biconcave shape)
Peripheral blood smear
Top cell = large lymphocyte
Black arrow = normal monocyte: convoluted nucleus
What is abnormal about the noted cell?
Macrocytic (large) and blue-ish tinted red cell
-blueish tint b/c of persistence of RNA indicating a shift to the left
Normal basophil
- can tell b/c granules overlying nucleus and cytoplasm
- basophils exist normally at about .5-1% of the peripheral blood
What can cause basophilia?
Basophilia = > .5-1% of basophils in peripheral blood
Causes = P. vera and CML
Burr cells = red cell w/ abnormal cell membrane causing spikes
- can be due to EDTA (anticoag used in sample blood) => artificat of stianing
- or can be due to uremia, indicating hypoproliferative anemia
Stack of nickles- Rouleaux formation
-indicative of inflammation, cancer, specifically multiple myeloma (plasma cell myeloma)
Hypersegmented (> 5) neutrophils
-indicative of megaloblastic anemia = B12 or folate deficiency
Microcytic (smaller than lymphocyte nucleus), hypochromic (more central pallor)
- indicative of microcytic anemia (ex: iron deficiency possibly)
- also note large variation in the sizes of RBC
- hypochromic macrocytes, target cells, nucleated RBC
- even see alpha chain precipitated in a red cell
= beta thalassema
Hat cells = fragemented red cells
-indicative of TTP = thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura
= Schistocytes (red cell fragments) indicative of mechanical force to the RBC
-seen in microangiopathic hemolytic anemia = anemia caused by factors in the small blood vessels
Congenital elliptocytosis
