New York State Department of Health - Wadsworth Center - Cytohematology Proficiency Testing

Slide 037 [100X]

This slide was taken from the peripheral blood of a 79 year-old female with pyrexia (fever) and emphysema. Her white blood cell count was 14.7 X 103/µL and her platelet count was 34 X 103/µL. The differential showed 96% myeloblasts with Auer rods present. Directions stated to use the code that best describes the findings indicated by the arrow found in the cytoplasm. Therefore, the response of code 33: Auer rod, was the only acceptable answer. The bone marrow showed 89% blasts. Special stain results on the marrow were positive for Sudan black, negative for alpha naphthyl butyrate, and 6% positive for ASD chloroacetate. Surface markers were CD13- 73%, CD33- 67% and CD34- 3%. Diagnosis was acute myelogenous leukemia ( AML).
NUMBER OF RESPONSES CELL CODE AND TYPE
489 code 33- Auer rod
7 code 04- myeloblast
1 code 01- blast cell present, not classified

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