Peripheral Blood Smear

From Anvita Health Wiki

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Indications 3 Clinical-significance 4 Procedure 5 More General Terms 6 References

Introduction

• Microscopic examination of blood obtained from a peripheral vein or capillaries.

Indications

• examination of cell morphology

• erythrocytes
• leukocytes
• platelets

• identification of parasites

• malaria
• microfilaria

Clinical-significance

• schistocytes & thrombocytopenia -> TTP
• schistocytes & prosthetic heart valve -> heart valve leak
• RBC agglutination -> cold agglutinin hemolysis (Mycoplasma)
• spherocytes ->

• autoimmune hemolytic anemia or
• hereditary spherocytosis

• target cells ->

• thalassemia
• hemoglobinopathy
• liver disease

• sickle cells -> sickle cell anemia

Procedure

• Wright stain is commonly used for peripheral smears

More General Terms

• clinical hematology test

References

Clinical Diagnosis & Management by Laboratory Methods, 19th edition, J.B. Henry (ed), W.B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, PA. 1996, pg 574-86

peripheral blood smear