
In patients with microcytic anemia, RBC morphology can increase or decrease the diagnostic likelihood of thalassemia. In normocytic anemias, morphology can assist in differentiating among blood loss, marrow failure, and hemolysis-and in hemolysis, RBC findings can suggest specific etiologies.
What does RBC morph means?
what does rbc morph means - Morphologic changes seen in RBC's on a peripheral blood smear. May show shape changes, for example of the red blood cells - Heart & Vascular - Blood and Blood Vessel: what does rbc morph means
What does "RBC morphology abnormal" mean?
In brief: Many possibilities. RBC morphology is the appearance of the red cells under the microscope. The are numerous abnormalities that can occur in different types of illness. Some of these may be due to a primary blood disorder such as sickle cell anemia. Others may be due abnormalities such as iron deficiency.
What is the normal RBC?
The normal RBC count ranges from 4.2 – 5.4 million cells per microliter in women. The normal red blood cell count in males differs according to their age. According to the Children’s Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota, the optimum value of normal RBCs at different ages in males is tabulated below:
What causes low RBC?
Other potential causes of a low red blood cell count include:
- Anemia
- Bone marrow failure
- Bleeding
- Erythropoietin deficiency due to kidney disease
- RBC destruction from blood vessel injuries or transfusions
- Malnutrition; nutritional deficiencies of vitamins B6 or B12, folic acid, copper, or iron
- Leukemia
- Multiple myeloma (bone marrow cancer)
- Pregnancy
- Overhydration

What is normal morphology of RBC?
Normal, mature RBCs are biconcave, disc-shaped, anuclear cells measuring approximately 7-8 microns in diameter on a peripheral blood smear with an internal volume of 80-100 femtoliters (fL).
What is meant by RBC morphology?
Evaluation and interpretation of red blood cell (RBC) morphology is an important component of a complete blood count (CBC). RBC morphology may provide important diagnostic information regarding the underlying cause of anemia and systemic disease.
What is the morphologic appearance of the red cells?
Dysmorphic RBCsOverview of dysmorphic RBCsMorphologyElliptocytes (ovalocytes)Oval or ellipticalEchinocytes (burr cells)Smooth, rounded, and evenly spaced cytoplasmic projections (smaller than projections of acanthocytes)Target cells (codocytes)Bullseye appearance8 more rows•Jul 21, 2022
Why is my RBC morphology abnormal?
Common causes of abnormal red blood cells include: Drepanocytes (sickle cells): sickle cell disease. Spherocytes (cup shaped): autoimmune disorders, transfusion reactions, diseases of newborns, or snakebites. Dacrocytes (teardrop cells): leukemia, megaloblastic anemia, or myelofibrosis.
Why do we check the morphology of the red blood cells under the microscope?
The purpose of examining a blood smear is to check the size, shape, and number of three types of blood cells: Red blood cells, which carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. White blood cells, which fight infection. Platelets, which help your blood to clot.
What does morphology mean in blood work?
The cell morphology tests examines the size and shape of bone marrow cells to distinguish healthy cells from abnormal cells that may be cancerous.
What is the cell morphology?
Cell morphology describes the shape, structure, form, and size of cells.
What is cell morphology?
Cell morphology describes the shape, structure, form, and size of cells.
What is positive morph in blood test?
Ratings ranged from 1 (0%-25% "me") to 4 (75%100% "me"). Positive values indicate percentage morphed to the same-sex, whereas negative values indicate percentage morphed to the opposite-sex.
What is RBC morphology?
When used properly, RBC morphology can be a key tool for laboratory hematology professionals to recommend appropriate clinical and laboratory follow-up and to select the best tests for definitive diagnosis.
What is the foundation of laboratory hematologic diagnosis?
The foundation of laboratory hematologic diagnosis is the complete blood count and review of the peripheral smear. In patients with anemia, the peripheral smear permits interpretation of diagnostically significant red blood cell (RBC) findings. These include assessment of RBC shape, size, color, inc …
Does RBC morphology increase or decrease thalassemia?
In patients with microcytic anemia, RBC morphology can increase or decrease the diagnostic likelihood of thalassemia. In normocytic anemias, morphology can assist in differentiating among blood loss, marrow failure, and hemolysis-and in hemolysis, RBC findings can suggest specific etiologies.
What is a complete blood count?
A standard complete blood count is performed on an automated laboratory instrument that quantitates the amount of Hgb as well as the size, shape, and number of RBC's. A variety of calculations are performed to produce indices that provide information about RBC disorders. The standard indices are:
What is MCHC in chemistry?
The MCHC is calculated and provides a measure of the concentration of Hgb in the cells in g/dL.
What is the HGB value?
The Hgb content is measured directly and given in grams per deciliter (g/dL). This value, along with Hct, provides the most useful measure of the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood.
What is the MCV unit?
The MCV is measured directly; the unit is a femtoliter (fL). The MCV measures the size of RBC's and is the most important index for classification of anemias into "macrocytic" with higher than normal MCV and "microcytic" with low MCV.
What is the HCT in blood?
The Hct is a calculated value and provides a measure of the amount of oxygen carrying capacity of the blood.
What is the term for a disease with marked poikilocytosis and microcytosis?
Beta-thalassemia with marked poikilocytosis and microcytosis.
What is CBC in a lab?
A CBC is performed using an automated laboratory instrument which measures the numbers of RBC's, WBC's, and platelets per unit volume. In addition, the RBC indices are generated. Some instruments can also generate an automated WBC differential count.
Why is red blood cell morphology important?
The review of red blood cell morphology is a critical step in the evaluation of a patient with anemia. It can be very useful in evaluating microcytic, normocytic, and macrocytic anemias and is especially helpful in the work-up of patients with hemolysis.
What is the RBC tapered to?
The RBC is tapered to a point at one end, resembling the classic artist's rendition of a drop of water. Nonspecific finding seen in several conditions including myelofibrosis. Most clinicians and laboratory professionals use an approach to anemia centering on the mean cell volume (MCV).
What is the morphology of microcytic anemia?
In classic cases, the morphological differentiation of the three common microcytic anemias is straightforward. The classic morphology in ACD is of unremarkable RBCs, while iron deficiency shows anisocytosis, anisochromia, and elliptocytosis, and thalassemia trait demonstrates target cells and coarse basophilic stippling.
Why is my RBC count low?
low counts due to faulty aspiration of whole blood by the automated counter; macrocytosis due to RBC agglutination or rouleaux, hyperleukocytosis, or severe hyperglycemia; microcytosis due to the blood counter's misidentification of giant platelets as RBCs.
What is a high platelet count?
To review relevant white blood cell (WBC) and platelet (PLT) findings. For example, a high platelet count is expected in anemia due to iron deficiency and a low platelet count is expected in anemia due to microangiopathic hemolysis.
What is CBC in hematology?
For laboratory hematology professionals, the complete blood count (CBC) and the peripheral smear are, respectively, our history and physical examination. Despite quantum leaps in technological development in the clinical laboratory, with evolutions and revolutions in flow cytometry and point of care testing and molecular analysis, review of a patient's CBC and peripheral smear morphology is still the mainstay of hematologic diagnosis.
Is the zone of central pallor linear or circular?
The zone of central pallor is linear , rather than circular. Usually the ‘line of pallor’ runs parallel to the long axis of the RBC, if the latter is ovoid, but in certain variants (e.g., South East Asian ovalocytosis), the line may run across the long axis or may be nonlinear, for example, bifurcated or trifurcated.
What is RBC morphology?
By Staff Writer Last Updated March 25, 2020. Follow Us: According to MediaLab, Inc., the term "RBC morphology" refers to the size, shape and color of red blood cells; it is not an illness and no treatment is required.
What is abnormal RBC morphology?
The Medical College of Virginia's discussion of abnormal RBC morphology includes a number of different types of anemia, a term which the Mayo Clinic describes as a decreased number of red blood cells. One of the more common of these is sickle cell anemia, a disease in which hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells, ...
What are the conditions that affect RBC morphology?
However, the Medical College of Virginia explains that abnormalities in RBC morphology are associated with a number of conditions, including sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, heavy metal poisoning, tuberculosis, uremia and others. The treatment for each depends on the condition or disease.
What is the disease that causes red blood cells to die?
One of the more common of these is sickle cell anemia, a disease in which hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells, is abnormal and causes the cells to assume a sickle shape. These cells die more quickly than normal cells, causing chronic anemia.
What is a target cell?
Target Cells (Codocytes): erythrocytes that are thinner than normal which show a peripheral rim of hemoglobin with a dark central hemoglobin-containing area. A pale unstained ring containing less hemoglobin separates the central and peripheral zones and gives the cell a target appearance. Liver Disease. Hemoglobinopathies.
What is microcytosis in erythrocytes?
Microcytosis: abnormally small erythrocytes (i.e., less than 6 in diameter). compare with the size for small lymphocyte.
What is basophilic stippling?
Basophilic Stippling: is the term used to indicate the presence of irregular basophilic granules in the cytoplasm of erythrocytes. The granules are composed of unstable RNA and may be fine of coarse.
Which type of erythrocytes demonstrate a central pale area that becomes larger and paler as the hemo?
Hypochromic: Erythrocytes that demonstrate a central pale area that becomes larger and paler as the hemoglobin content diminishes.
What term is used to indicate red blood cells of normal size and shape?
The term used to indicate red blood cells of normal size and shape is normocytic. The term used to indicate a normal color or central pallor (i.e., normal hemoglobin content) is normochromic. Hypochromic: Erythrocytes that demonstrate a central pale area that becomes larger and paler as the hemoglobin content diminishes.
What is a Pappenheimer body?
Pappenheimer Bodies: are intracellular inorganic iron-containing granules that may be ob-served on Wright’s stained peripheral blood smears. Pappenheimer Bodies. Rouleaux formation: describes an aggregation of erythrocytes that are aligned one upon the other, resembling stacks of coins.
What is the term for a variation in the shape of erythrocytes?
Polychromasia. Anisocytosis: is a “generic” term used to indicate variation in shape of erythrocytes (e.g. oval, pear-shaped, teardrop-shaped, saddle-shaped, helmet-shaped, sickle-shaped, and irregularly shaped). Anisocytosis.
What is the most useful value in the RBC index?
The RBC indices can help your doctor determine the cause if your doctor thinks you have anemia. The MCV is the most useful value in the RBC indices to help determine the type of anemia you may have.
What is the blood that carries oxygen?
Blood consists of RBCs, white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets that are suspended in your plasma. Platelets are cells that enable clot formation. RBCs contain hemoglobin, which carries oxygen throughout your body to all of your tissues and organs. An RBC is pale red and gets its color from hemoglobin. It’s shaped like a doughnut, but it has a thinner area in the middle instead of a hole. Your RBCs are normally all the same color, size, and shape. However, certain conditions can cause variations that impair their ability to function properly.
How do you know if you have anemia?
The CBC is a broad test that measures the number of all RBCs, WBCs, and platelets in a sample of blood. If you’re found to have anemia, the RBC and the RBC indices can help to determine what’s causing your anemia.
What is the RBC test used for?
Your RBC indices and RBC count are used to diagnose different types of anemia. You have some form of anemia if you have a low RBC count or abnormal RBC indices.
What is the purpose of RBC indices?
The RBC indices measure the size, shape, and physical characteristics of the RBCs. Your doctor can use RBC indices to help diagnose the cause of anemia. Anemia is a common blood disorder in which you have too few, misshapen, or poorly functional RBCs.
What does MCHC mean?
mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), which is the amount of hemoglobin relative to the size of the cell or hemoglobin concentration per red blood cell
Why is my MCV lower than normal?
The MCV will be lower than normal when red blood cells are too small. This condition is called microcytic anemia.
