Principles of Laboratory Haematology Flashcards
What is anisocytosis?
Variation in size of blood cells
Wha condition is anisocytosis seen in?
Myelodysplastic syndrome
What conditions are target cells seen in?
Iron deficiency anaemia
Post-splenectomy
What are target cells?
Central pigmented area surrounded by a ring of thicker cytoplasm on the outside
What are Heinz bodies?
Individual blobs seen inside RBCs caused by denatured globin
What conditions are Heinz bodies seen in?
G6PD
Alpha-thalassaemia
What are Howell-Jolly bodies?
Individual blobs of DNA material seen inside RBCs
What conditions are Howel-Jolly bodies seen in?
Post-splenectomy
Severe anaemia
In what conditions does the reticulate ratio go up?
Haemolytic anaemia
What percentage of RBCs should be reticulocytes?
1%
What are schistocytes?
Fragments of RBCs
What conditions are schistocytes seen in?
Haemolytic uraemia. syndrome
DIC
Thrombotic thormbocytopaenia. purpura
Metallic heart valves
Haemolytic anaemia
What are sideroblasts?
Immature RBCs containing blobs of iron
Occur when bone marrow is unable to incorporate iron into haemoglobin molecules
What can sideroblasts indicate?
Myelodysplastic syndrome
What are smudge cells?
Ruptured WBCs that occur during process of preparing blood film
Aged/fragile WBCs
