Peripheral Blood Smear Flashcards
Where on a Wright stained PBS should cells be evaluated?
Area just inside the feather edge
What are the stages of neutrophilic maturation?
Myeloblast-> Promyelocyte-> Myelocyte-> Metamyelocyte-> Band-> Segmented Neutrophil
In what conditions are segmented neutrophils increased?
Infections, stress, leukemoid reactions
What does the presence of band neutrophils in a PBS indicate?
Increased in myeloproliferative disorders, “left shift” in infections and stress, leukemoid reactions
What is a ‘left shift’?
An increase in one or more immature white cell forms seen found in peripheral blood
True or False: The combined presence of Dohle bodies and toxic granulations is indicative of leukemias
False– won’t see this in leukemias
In what conditions are hypersegmented neutrophils seen?
Megaloblastic anemia- B12 or Folate deficiency
In what conditions are hyposegmented neutrophils (Pseudo Pelger Huet cells) seen?
Myelodysplastic syndromes
What conditions are associated with basophila?
Myeloprolifetative disorders and hypersensitivity reactions
What conditions are associated with monocytosis
Chronic infections, malignancy, IBD, and collagen vascular disease
What is an increased number of reactive lymphocytes indicative of?
Viral infections
What is the most dire finding on a peripheral blood smear?
The absence of platelets
What are the stages of RBC maturation?
Proerythroblast-> Erythroblast-> Polychromatophilic normoblast-> Orthochromatophilic normoblast-> Polchromatophilic erythrocyte-> erythrocyte
Which is the first stage of RBC development that is found in the peripheral blood under normal conditions?
Polychromatophilic erythrocytes
What RBC adjectives describe the hemoglobin content?
Normochromic, hypochromic, and, hyperchromic
Nucleated red blood cells are normal findings in the peripheral blood of what population of patients?
Newborns
What is polychromasia?
Increased polychromatic RBCs on PBS
What can the presence of target cells in a PBS indicate?
Excessive membrane- liver disease; less cell interior content- hemoglobinopathies, thalassemias, anemia
What are schistocytes?
Fragmented cells with ariable shapes
What formation is associated with bite cells?
Heinz bodies
What are tear drop cells indicative of?
Bone marrow fibrosis
What is the appearance of spherocytes?
Sphere shaped cells that lack central pallor
What are acanthocytes? What are the most common two causes?
RBCs with irregular projections; Abetalipoproteinemia and Adv. liver disease
What is the appearance of echinocytes?
RBCs with evenly distributed short, blunt or pointed spircules along the surface
