A blood smear is a blood test that gives information about the number and shape and appearance of blood cells.

Clinical Significance

This test may be done as part of a general health exam to help diagnose many illnesses. Or, health care provider may recommend this test if have signs of-

·         Any known or suspected blood disorder

·         Cancer

·         Leukemia

·         A blood smear may also be done to monitor the side effects of chemotherapy or to help diagnose an infection, such as malaria.

Normal Results

Red blood cells (RBCs) normally are the same size and color and are a lighter color in the center. The blood smear is considered normal if there is-

·         Normal appearance of cells

·         Normal white blood cell differential

Abnormal Results Mean

Abnormal results mean the size, shape, color, or coating of the RBCs is not normal.

Some abnormalities may be graded on a 4-point scale-

·         1+ means one quarter of cells are affected

·         2+ means one half of cells are affected

·         3+ means three quarters of cells are affected

·         4+ means all of the cells are affected

Presence of cells called target cells may be due to-

·         Abnormal hemoglobin, the protein in RBCs that carries oxygen (hemoglobinopathies)

·         Deficiency of an enzyme called lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase

·         Iron deficiency

·         Liver disease

·         Spleen removal

Presence of sphere-shaped cells may be due to-

·         Low number of RBCs due to the body destroying them (immune hemolytic anemia)

·         Low number of RBCs due to some RBCs shaped like spheres (hereditary spherocytosis)

·         Increased breakdown of RBCs

·         Presence of RBCs with an oval shape may be a sign of hereditary elliptocytosis or hereditary ovalocytosis. These are conditions in which RBCs are abnormally shaped.

Presence of fragmented cells (also called schistocytes) may be due to-

·         Artificial heart valve

·         Blood disorder that causes blood clots to form in small blood vessels around the body and leads to a low platelet count (thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura)

·         Disorder in which the proteins that control blood clotting become overactive (disseminated intravascular coagulation)

·         Infection in the digestive system producing toxic substances that destroy RBCs, causing kidney injury (hemolytic uremic syndrome)

Presence of a type of immature RBCs called normoblasts may be due to-

·         Blood disorder called erythroblastosis fetalis that affects a fetus or newborn

·         Cancer that has spread to bone marrow

·         Disorder in which there is excessive breakdown of hemoglobin (thalassemia)

·         Disorder of the bone marrow in which the marrow is replaced by fibrous scar tissue (myelofibrosis)

·         Removal of spleen

·         Severe breakdown of RBCs (hemolysis)

·         Tuberculosis that has spread from the lungs to other parts of the body through the blood (miliary tuberculosis)

The presence of cells called burr cells may indicate-

·         Abnormally high level of nitrogen waste products in the blood (uremia)

·         The presence of cells called spur cells may indicate:

·         Inability to fully absorb dietary fats through the intestines (abetalipoproteinemia)

·         Severe liver disease

The presence of teardrop-shaped cells may indicate-

·         Anemia caused by bone marrow not producing normal blood cells due to toxins or tumor cells (myelophthisic process)

·         Cancer in the bone marrow

·         Myelofibrosis

·         Severe iron deficiency

·         Thalassemia major

The presence of Howell-Jolly bodies (a type of granule inside the red blood cells) may indicate-

·         Bone marrow does not produce enough healthy blood cells (myelodysplasia)

·         Sickle cell anemia

·         Spleen has been removed

The presence of Heinz bodies (bits of altered hemoglobin) may indicate-

·         Alpha thalassemia

·         Congenital hemolytic anemia

·         Disorder in which RBCs break down when the body is exposed to certain medicines or is stressed because of infection (G6PD deficiency)

·         Unstable form of hemoglobin

The presence of slightly immature RBCs may indicate-

·         Anemia with bone marrow recovery

·         Hemolytic anemia

·         Hemorrhage

The presence of basophilic stippling (a spotted appearance) may indicate-

·         Disorder of the bone marrow in which the marrow is replaced by fibrous scar tissue (myelofibrosis)

·         Lead poisoning

·         The presence of sickle cells may indicate sickle cell anemia.

Reference(s)

1.      Bain BJ. The peripheral blood smear. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020: chap 148.

2.      Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM. Blood disorders. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020: chap 124.

3.      Merguerian MD, Gallagher PG. Hereditary elliptocytosis, hereditary pyropoikilocytosis, and related disorders. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020: chap 486.

4.      Natelson EA, Chughtai-Harvey I, Rabbi S. Hematology. In: Rakel RE, Rakel DP, eds. Textbook of Family Medicine. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016: chap 39.

5.      Warner EA, Herold AH. Interpreting laboratory tests. In: Rakel RE, Rakel DP, eds. Textbook of Family Medicine. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016: chap 14.