This smear is shown under low power (10x objective) magnification. The reddish cells in the background are mature red blood cells. The dark dots are nucleated erythroid and myeloid precursors. The large dark dot in the middle is a megakaryocyte. Normally, about 5 to 10 megakaryocytes are seen per microscopic field at low power magnification. Clusters of megakaryocytes usually indicate megakaryocytic hyperplasia. Less than 2 megakaryocytes per low power field may mean megakaryocytic hypoplasia.
