Hematology & Coagulation Flashcards

Schistocytes on a peripheral smear with thrombocytopenia are most suggestive of which condition?

Answer: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

TTP is a microangiopathic hemolytic anemia in which RBCs are sheared by microthrombi, producing schistocytes.

Coarse basophilic stippling in RBCs is classically associated with which condition?

Answer: Lead poisoning

Lead inhibits pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase, leaving aggregated ribosomal RNA visible as coarse stippling.

A specimen has an MCHC of 39 g/dL and RBC agglutination on the smear. What is the most appropriate corrective action?

Answer: Warm the specimen to 37°C and rerun

Cold agglutinins falsely elevate MCV and MCHC and falsely lower RBC count; warming to 37°C disperses the agglutinates.

Which stain is used to perform a manual reticulocyte count?

Answer: New methylene blue

New methylene blue is a supravital stain that precipitates residual RNA in reticulocytes.

Heinz bodies seen with crystal violet supravital stain are most characteristic of which disorder after oxidant drug exposure?

Answer: G6PD deficiency

G6PD-deficient cells cannot protect hemoglobin from oxidation, so denatured hemoglobin precipitates as Heinz bodies.

Auer rods in blast cells are most indicative of which condition?

Answer: Acute myeloid leukemia

Auer rods are fused azurophilic primary granules found only in myeloid lineage blasts.

Numerous dacrocytes (teardrop cells) with a leukoerythroblastic picture most strongly suggest:

Answer: Primary myelofibrosis

Marrow fibrosis distorts RBCs as they leave the marrow, producing teardrop cells along with immature WBCs and nRBCs.