Polychromatophilic Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.

These are the MediaLab courses that cover Polychromatophilic and links to relevant pages within the course.

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CLIA Hematology / Hemostasis Review
Coarse basophilic stippling in all of the following EXCEPT:	View Page

Erythrocyte Inclusions - Wright Stained Smears
This smear shows several polychromatophilic red cells.	View Page
On a Wright's-stained smear, the blue/gray appearing non-nucleated red cells are called:	View Page
Polychromatophilic Cell Absence There are no polychromatophilic cells in this field.	View Page
This slide contains:	View Page
This slide contains:	View Page
This slide contains:	View Page
This slide contains:	View Page
Another Polychromatophilic Cell Another example of a polychromatophilic cell is indicated by the arrow on this slide.	View Page
Polychromatophilic Cells There are two polychromatophilic cells in this field. Notice that they have a blue-gray appearance when compared to the other red cells in the field. Frequently polychromatophilic cells are larger in size than mature red cells.	View Page
Two Polychromatophilic Cells Two polychromatophilic cells, one larger than the other, are seen in the center of this field.	View Page
What is Basophilic Stippling? On a Wright's-stained smear, the presence of multiple dark blue particles or granules of varying size, scattered throughout the cytoplasm of erythrocytes in the reticulocyte stage is called basophilic stippling. There are two types of stippling, fine or diffuse, and coarse or punctate. The erythrocyte containing them may stain normally in other respects or it may be polychromatophilic.	View Page
Polychromatophilic Cell In contrast to the granular appearance of the basophilic stippling seen in the previous two slides, the polychromatophilic cell in the center of this slide is smooth in appearance and bluish-gray in color.	View Page

Red Cell Disorders: Peripheral Blood Clues to Nonneoplastic Conditions

Warm antibody hemolytic disease

A 49-year-old male with pneumonia was treated with penicillin. He became jaundiced with yellow sclera. Observe the photograph of his peripheral blood smear. Anisocytosis was observed with pale-centered microcytes and polychromatophilic macrocytes. Since penicillin is a classic offender for autoimmune hemolytic disease, the clinician asked for an antihuman globulin (AHG) test, also known as the Coombs test. A positive AHG reaction occurs when the antibody stimulated by penicillin becomes attached to red blood cells. Hemolysis follows, leaving the patient with jaundice and a peripheral blood smear, as demonstrated in the photograph.

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Red Cell Morphology
The cell in the center of the field is an example of a/an:	View Page
Most of the cells in this field could be described as:	View Page
Which of the following terms best describes most of the cells in this field?	View Page
Echinocytes Echinocyte comes from the Greek word meaning “sea urchin,” which relates to its shell-like appearance. Echinocytes are reversible, meaning that this alteration can be the result of the cell’s environment, pH of the medium (including the glass slides on which blood smears are made), the metabolic state of the cell and the use of some chemical substances. An example of an echinocyte can be seen in the center of this slide. Notice the projections (10-30 can be seen) are rounded and evenly spaced around the cell. Acanthocytes have irregularly spaced thorn-like projections. An echinocyte is shown left of the B in this photomicrograph. A polychromatophilic cell is seen just above the echinocyte.	View Page
Which of the following statements is true of polychromatophilic cells?	View Page
Color of Erythrocytes In addition to the amount of hemoglobin present, the color of the cell must also be considered. Completely mature red cells appear buff-colored, while slightly immature non-nucleated red cells (reticulocyte stage) appear blue/gray on Wright's stained smears due to the presence of residual ribonucleic acid (RNA).The terms used to describe these cells are polychromasia or polychromatophilia. Polychromatophilic cells are frequently larger in size than mature red cells and can be distinguished from both types of macrocytes by this distinctive color.	View Page
What type of cells are present in this slide?	View Page
In this slide, what type of cells are present?	View Page
Polychromasia The large cell in the center of this field is slightly blue/gray and is an example of a polychromatophilic red cell.Increased numbers of these cells, (approximately 2 or greater per oil immersion field,) indicate increased red cell output by the bone marrow. Polychromatophilic cells are larger and younger than mature red cells, and may be larger than 9 micron in diameter. Under normal conditions, these young red cells remain in the bone marrow one or two days before release into the bloodstream. However, when the bone marrow is stressed due to blood loss or other conditions, these cells are prematurely released into the blood, resulting in a blood smear with polychromasia. These red cells are often referred to as shift cells. If stained with a supravital stain, they would be identified as reticulocytes.	View Page
Polychromatophilic Red Cells Two polychromatophilic cells are shown in this slide. They are enlarged and have a slightly grayish blue tinge.	View Page
What type of cells are present in this slide?	View Page
In this slide, what type of cells are present?	View Page

White Cell and Platelet Disorders: Peripheral Blood Clues to Nonneoplastic Conditions
The peripheral blood smear noted in the photograph was held for morophological and clinical review as the total platelet count was 10,000/cumm. Conditions fitting this picture include:	View Page