Macrocytes
Morphology: red blood cells that are larger than normal, may be hypochromic or normochromic. Look alike: polychromatophils (also larger than normal but stain dark purple). Commonly seen with: other features of… Read more Macrocytes →
Torocytes
Morphology: red blood cells with increased central pallor and a normal thick rim of hemoglobin creating a “punched out” appearance. Look alikes: codocytes (bullseye), hypochromasia (increased central pallor with thin rim of… Read more Torocytes →
Codocytes
Also called: target cells Morphology: canine red blood cells with a bullseye appearance. Caused by increased ratio of cell membrane to hemoglobin content which results in a central bulge. Look alike:… Read more Codocytes →
Keratocytes
Also called: blister cells (vesicle), helmet cells (ruptured) Morphology: red blood cells with a blister-like vesicle on the margin, or a bite-shaped defect with horn-like projections on the margin (which results… Read more Keratocytes →
Schizocytes
Also called: schistocytes Morphology: red blood cell fragments. Usually oblong with irregular margins, but may appear in a variety of shapes and sizes. Commonly seen with: keratocytes and acanthocytes (if caused by… Read more Schizocytes →
Basophilic Stippling
Morphology: numerous small, blue, punctate inclusions in red blood cells. Caused by spontaneous aggregation of ribosomes in the cytoplasm. Look alike: Mycoplasma Commonly seen with: features of regenerative anemia (macrocytes, anisocytosis, polychromatophils), features… Read more Basophilic Stippling →
Mycoplasma
Morphology: small blue cocci, rings, or rods on the surface of red blood cells. May be observed in the background between red blood cells (bacteria fall off of red cells… Read more Mycoplasma →
Howell-Jolly Bodies
Morphology: small, round, dark purple inclusions within red blood cells. Usually only 1 per red cell. Howell-Jolly bodies are nuclear remnants (small fragments of non-functional nucleus that were not expelled… Read more Howell-Jolly Bodies →
Cells and Smears 