How to look at blood films Flashcards
Anaemia
Reduced viscosity of the blood
Cells more spaced out
Polycythaemia
Increased haemoglobin concentration
Increased viscosity
Microcytosis
Red cells are smaller
Have hypochromia
Macrocytosis
Increase in average size of red cell
Anisocytosis
Increased variation in size of red cells
Variation of haemoglobin concentration
Hypochromia
Reduced staining of red cells
Reduced haemoglobin concentration
Hyperchromic microspherocytes
Lacking central pallor
Polychromasia
Bluish tinge
Increased reticulocyte count
Poikilocytosis
Increased variability in red cell shape
Spherocyte
Spheres that lack central pallor
Irregularly contracted cells
Cells lacking central pallor but with irregular outlines
Elliptocytes
Oval outline
Pencil cells
Elliptocytes which lack centre of pallor
Target cells
Resembles a target
Keratocyte
Horned cells
Howell Jolly body
Small nuclear fragments within erthroytes
Heinz bodies
Haemoglobin that has precipitated due to oxidant damage
Hemi ghost
Haemoglobin has precipitated leaving rest of the cell membrane empty
Leucocytosis
Increase in the total white cell count
Neutrophilia
Increase in neutrophil
Hypersegmented neutrophil
Megaloblastic anaemia
Eosinophilia
Increased bone marrow output
Allergies
Basophilia
Happens during cancer
Lymphocytosis
Increase in the total lymphocyte count
Monocytosis
Increase in the absolute monocyte count
Reaction condition
