Peripheral Blood Flim(PBF)
Protocols
As the name suggests, these are red cells which are larger in size. They are
found in
- megaloblastic anemia
- aplastic anemia
- myelodysplastic syndromes
- chronic liver disease
These are red cells which are smaller in size. They are seen in
- iron deficiency anemia
- anemia of chronic disease
- thalassemia
- other hemoglobinopathies
- sideroblastic anemia
Hypochromia
It refers to the presence of red cells in which the area of central pallor is
increased. It is seen in
- iron deficiency anemia
- anemia of chronic disease
- thalassemia
- other hemoglobinopathies
- sideroblastic anemia
Polychromasia
This appearance is of reticulocytes which appear pale blue on smears fixed and
stained subsequently. So in patients with reticulocytes an increased nuber of
polychromatophils are seen in the smear. They can be seen in
- hemolytic anemias
- nutritional anemias after treatment with hematinics
Target cells
These are cells in which there is a central round stained area and a peripheral
rim of hemoglobin which are sepearted by non staining cytoplasm.
They are found in
- chronic liver disease
- iron deficiency anemia
- thalassemia
- other hemoglobinopathies
Spherocytes
These are spheroidal red cells with a regular outline. They are seen in
- hereditary spherocytosis
- immune hemolytic anemia
- hemolytic disease of the new born
- bacterial toxins
Basophilic stippling
This means the presence of numerous blue granules in the red cells. They are
found in
- thalassemia
- lead poisonimg
- unstable hemoglobins
- megaloblastic anemia
Howell Jolly bodies
These are nuclear remnants and are present singly in a small number of red cells.
They are basophilic and are seen in
- after splenectomy
- pernicious anemia