Peripheral Smear

Anisocytosis

• These are abnormal in size

Basophilic Stippling

• Usually seen in reticulocytes, an immature form of RBC, released in response to strong stimulus, and seen in:
  • Anemia
  • Leukemia
• Is nearly universally seen in cases of clinically significant lead poisoning.

Hypochromic

• The normally pale center of the RBC is even more pale, suggesting reduced concentrations of hemoglobin within the cell.

Malarial Stippling

• Very fine granular appearance to the RBCs, representing malarial parasites.
• Also known as:
  • Schueffner's dots
  • Parasitized RBCs

Normochromic

• Normal amounts of staining for hemoglobin, suggesting normal concentrations of hemoglobin within the cell.

Nucleated RBCs

• In an adult, RBCs are not normally nucleated. 
• The presence of NRBCs indicates the body is aggressively producing red cells and releasing them into the circulation prior to full maturity. 
• This is commonly seen in cases of significant anemia.

Poikilocytosis

• These are abnormal in shape.
• This due to improper formation of the cell membrane.
• This typically occurs in cases of severe anemia when the RBC manufacturing system goes into overdrive, greatly increasing the number of RBCs produced, but with lesser degrees of quality control.

Polychromasia

• Variations in staining of the RBC suggesting a more rapid production than is usually seen. 
• Commonly seen in anemias of all types, but particularly hemolytic anemias and anemias following acute blood loss.

Reticulocytes

• An immature form of RBC, it released in response to strong stimulus, and seen in:
  • Anemia
  • Leukemia

Shistocytes

• Bizarre-shaped RBCs, resembling triangles or spirals.
• Associated with:
  • Severe burns
  • DIC
  • Artificial heart valves
  • Vascular spasm

Sickle Cells

• Crescent-shaped RBCs, associated with abnormal hemoglobin formation (Hemoglobin S, SS, SC, SD or Sickle-Thallasemia.)
• Associated with hemolytic anemia.

Spherocytes

• Smaller and rounder than normal RBCs
• Associated with:
  • Hereditary disease
  • Post-transfusion changes
  • Water dilution

Target Cells

• Smaller than normal RBCs, with a central concentration of hemoglobin, giving it the appearance of a target.
• Associated with:
  • Liver disease
  • Iron deficiency anemia
  • Thallesemia

Normal Values of the Peripheral Smear*

*These are general values taken from a variety of sources. The actual normal values may vary from lab to lab and from one type of testing protocol to another.