RBC Morphology Evaluation Quiz

RBC Morphology Evaluation

• Classification criteria: Grades RBC morphology abnormalities.
• Grading scale: Uses 0-5, 5-10, 10-20, 20-50, and > 50 for occurrence counts per oil immersion field.
• Positive grading: When present, is graded only as positive regardless of instances of abnormalities.

Morphological Characteristics

• Macrocytes: Larger than 9 μm diameter.
• Microcytes: Smaller than 6 μm diameter.
• Hypochromia: Deficiency in the color of RBCs.
• Poikilocytosis: Abnormal variation in the shape of RBCs (generalized variations in shape).
• Burr cells: RBCs with multiple small projections.
• Acanthocytes: RBCs with irregular, thorny projections.
• Schistocytes: Fragmented RBCs.
• Teardrop poikilocytes: RBCs in the shape of a teardrop.
• Target cells (codocytes): RBCs with a central area of increased concentration of hemoglobin.
• Spherocytes: Smaller, spherical RBCs.
• Ovalocytes: Oval-shaped RBCs.
• Stomatocytes: RBCs containing narrow linear central staining.
• Sickle cells (drepanocytes): Crescent-shaped RBCs.
• Polychromatophilia: Presence of bluish-gray, immature RBCs.
• Basophilic stippling: Presence of small blue granules within the RBC.
• Howell-Jolly bodies: Small, dense, round inclusions within RBCs.
• Siderocytes (Pappenheimer bodies): Red granules within the RBC.

Additional Notes

• Quantified by occurrence: Measured by the number of occurrences per oil immersion field.
• Typical field range: Approximately 200 to 250 RBCs in a 100x oil objective field.
• Newborn Considerations: Specific ranges or absence/presence criteria for newborns are noted for certain characteristics.