Slide 039: Diagnosis: Asymptomatic Wadsworth Center employee
Available data: 45 year-old female Several laboratories (19%) noted the presence of giant platelets. Laboratories are reminded that a giant platelet is classified as any platelet larger than 6.5 µm. A normal red cell is 6-8 µm in diameter. Normal platelets are approximately 1-4 µm, large platelets are approximately 4-6.5 µm. Giant platelets may be seen in Bernard-Soulier syndrome and in myeloproliferative disorders (chronic myelogenous leukemia, polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, and agnogenic myeloid metaplasia). Fifty-four laboratories noted the presence of stomatocytes. Stomatocytes are red blood cells with a slit-like or rectangular area of central pallor, sometimes referred to as a "mouth". These cells have lost the indentation on one side and may be found in liver disease, electrolyte imbalance, cardiovascular disease and hereditary stomatocytosis. The appearance of this slide may be due to less than perfect drying; therefore no error points were issued if stomatocytes were identified. The responses for band neutrophils and segmented neutrophils were combined and graded as total neutrophils.
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