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

Slide 063 [100X]

This slide was taken from the peripheral blood of a 13 year old female undergoing allergy evaluation. The phenomenon indicated by the arrow is platelet satellitosis. This in vitro phenomenon is seen in smears made from EDTA-anticoagulated blood. It is important to recognize platelet satellitism as its presence may cause a pseudo-thrombocytopenia. As the directions requested identification of the "cell or findings identified by the arrow", segmented neutrophil is also an acceptable response.

NUMBER OF RESPONSES	% OF LABORATORIES	CELL CODE AND TYPE
455	96.2%	Code: 53 Platelet satellitosis
15	3.2%	Code: 9 Segmented neutrophil
2	0.4%	Code: 18 Hypersegmentation
1	0.2%	Code: 20 Toxic granulation

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