Assessing Red Cell Morphology Procedure from Red Cell Morphology, presented by MediaLab

Introduction to Red Cell Morphology

Assessing Red Cell Morphology Procedure

The procedure for assessing red cell morphology includes examining the smear in the feathered (thinner) edge where the erythrocytes are randomly distributed and, for the most part, lie singly, with occasional doublets. This area is referred to as the "critical area."
If the area is too thin, the red cells will appear flat and somewhat square (cobblestone effect) with no central pallor. If the area examined is too thick, the cells will be too close together to evaluate the morphology of individual cells.
To begin the red cell morphology examination, use the low power (10X) objective to locate the "critical area." The oil immersion objective (100X) is used for the actual evaluation.

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