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

Slide 058 [100X]

This slide was taken from the peripheral blood of a 48 year-old female with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. The cells indicated by the arrows are schistocytes. They are irregular, fragmented red cells that result from membrane damage in thrombotic diseases or by contact with artificial surfaces, such as heart valves or implanted catheters or needles. Severe burns may also produce schistocytes.

NUMBER OF RESPONSES	% OF LABORATORIES	CELL CODE AND TYPE
473	98.1%	Code:39 Schistocyte
6	1.2%	Code:30 Acanthocyte
1	0.2%	Code:42 Spherocyte
1	0.2%	Code:44 Target Cell (codocyte)
1	0.2%	Code:54 Parasite

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