Template:Clinical pathology - entire topic

Clinical pathology

Author: Mikael Häggström, M.D.

Memorization-worthy: For the most likely types of cases and/or questions that you may be responsible for, know where to find local policies and procedures, and have a good idea of whom to ask for further advice. Make sure you have access and/or contact details for whenever and wherever you are likely to need them. Preferably have at least a quick look at policies and procedures so that you have an idea of what kind of answers you will find there when needed.

Blood bank

Author: Mikael Häggström
If you expect to get questions regarding blood products, get a copy of the local cutoffs for approving transfusions of red blood cells, platelets and plasma, and keep it so that you can quickly look it up when needed.

Always consider if a blood product should be given as per a local precaution protocol (usually including regular check-ups of the patient).

Specific questions or requests

• Generalized dosage in adults:

• Plasma: Generally 10-15 ml/kg, and results in approximately 25-30% plasma volume replacement. Detailed calculation
• Cryoprecipitate: 1 unit for every 7-10kg of body weight. 10 units generally replaces 100-150 mg/dl. Detailed calculation

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Blood compatibility testing

Author: Mikael Häggström

Blood typing

ABO antigens and antibodies

Upon direct testing by adding antibodies against A, B and/or Rh to patient blood, agglutination means that the patient has the antigen tested. Upon indirect testing by adding A or B antigen to patient plasma, agglutination means absence of the antigen in the patient (and thus the patient produces antibodies against it).

Identification of non-ABO antibodies

In the antibody screening procedure, an individual's plasma is added to a panel of two or three sets of red blood cells which have been chosen to express most clinically significant blood group antigens. Agglutination of the screening cells by the plasma, with or without the addition of anti-human globulin, indicates that an unexpected blood group antibody is present. If this occurs, further testing using more cells (usually 10–11) is necessary to identify the antibody. By examining the antigen profiles of the red blood cells the person's plasma reacts with, it is possible to determine the antibody's identity as follows:

• 

The image above shows the interpretation of an antibody panel used to detect antibodies towards the most relevant blood group antigens. Each row represents "reference" or "control" red blood cells of donors which have known antigen compositions and are ABO group O. A + means that the antigen is present on the reference red blood cells, and 0 means it is absent; nt means "not tested". The "result" column to the right displays reactivity when mixing reference red blood cells with plasma from the patient in 3 different phases: room temperature, 37°C and AHG (with anti-human globulin, by the indirect antiglobulin test).

• Step 1; Annotated in blue: starting to exclude antigens without reaction in all 3 phases; looking at the first reference cell row with no reaction (0 in column at right, in this case cell donor 2), and excluding (here marked by X) each present antigen where the other pair is either practically non-existent (such as for D) or 0 (presence is homozygous, in this case homozygous c).
  When both pairs are + (heterozygous cases), they are both excluded (here marked by X), except for C/c, E/e, Duffy, Kidd and MNS antigens (where antibodies of the patient may still react towards blood cells with homozygous antigen expression, because homozygous expression results in a higher dosage of the antigen). Thus, in this case, E/e is not excluded in this row, while K/k is, as well as Js^b (regardless of what Js^a would have shown).
• Step 2: Annotated in brown: Going to the next reference cell row with a negative reaction (in this case cell donor 4), and repeating for each antigen type that is not already excluded.
• Step 3: Annotated in purple. Repeating the same for each reference cell row with negative reaction.
• Step 4: Discounting antigens that were absent in all or almost all reactive cases (here marked with \). These are often antigens with low prevalence, and while there is a possibility of such antibodies being produced, they are generally not the type that is responsible for the reactivity at hand.
• Step 5: Comparing the remaining possible antigens for a most likely culprit (in this case Fy^a), and selectively ruling out significant differential antigens, such as with the shown additional donor cell type that is known to not contain Fy^a but contains C and Jk^a.

In this case, the antibody panel shows that anti-Fy^a antibodies are present. This indicates that donor blood typed to be negative for the Fy^a antigen must be used. Still, if a subsequent cross-matching shows reactivity, additional testing should be done against previously discounted antigens (in this case potentially E, K, Kp^a and/or Lu^a).

Hemagglutination inhibition

Neutralizing substance	Antigen cancelled
Hydatid cyst fluid Pigeon eggs	P1
Saliva	H, Lea
Breast milk	I
Guinea pig urine	Sda

Hemagglutination inhibition substances sound like they came from a witch brew!

When multiple antibodies are present, or when an antibody is directed against a high-frequency antigen, the normal antibody panel procedure may not provide a conclusive identification. In these cases, hemagglutination inhibition can be used, wherein a neutralizing substance cancels out a specific antigen. Alternatively, the plasma may be incubated with cells of known antigen profiles in order to remove a specific antibody (a process termed adsorption); or the cells can be treated with enzymes such as ficain or papain which inhibit the reactivity of some blood group antibodies and enhance others (see table below).

Clinical implication

The following is a simplified classification for the main anti-erythrocyte antibodies, using mneumonics for the main involved antigen groups:

• Anti-A/B antibodies: These will cause immediate hemolytic transfusion reaction if the red blood cells do not have compatible antigens, even if there is no previous exposure to the antigens. Therefore, blood transfusions must always be ABO compatible.
• "Kickers"-class antibodies: Antibodies against Kidd, Kell, Rh, S and Duffy group antigens. These have a significant risk of causing hemolytic transfusion reactions when present, and therefore, patients with kickers-class antibodies should receive blood that is negative for the antigen, except for very critical situations where there is no time to find compatible blood. Kickers-class antibodies generally need a previous exposure to the antigen to form, with transfusion reactions being possible upon subsequent transfusions. Some patients first test positive and later test negative for a kickers-class antibody, but such patients must still be transfused with antigen-negative blood regardless. They are generally of the IgG subtype, and are generally most active at 37°C. They can potentially cross the placenta and cause hemolytic disease of the newborn.
• "Limply"-class antibodies: Antibodies against Lutheran, Ii, M/N, P1, Lewis group antigens. These almost never cause clinically significant transfusion reactions (but anti-Ii antibodies are usually the type that causes cold agglutinin disease, a form of autoimmune hemolytic anemia). Hence, there is generally no need to find blood that is negative for the antigen for a limply-class positive patient. These antibodies are generally naturally occurring, that is, they don't require a previous exposure to the antigen to form. They are generally of the IgM class, and are generally not reactive at body temperature, but rather most active at room temperature and below. They generally pose no significant risk of hemolytic disease of the newborn (as IgM class antibodies do not cross the placenta).

Following is a comparison of clinically relevant characteristics of antibodies against the main human blood group systems:

	ABO	Rh	Kell	Duffy	Kidd	Lutheran	MNS	Lewis	P	Ii
Most common in immediate hemolytic transfusion reactions	A		Yes	Fya	Jka
Most common in delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions		E,D,C			Jka
Most common in hemolytic disease of the newborn	Yes	D,C	Yes
Commonly produce intravascular hemolysis	Yes				Yes				Yes
Reactive at room temperature	Yes						M,N	Lea, Leb	P1
Nearly always clinically insignificant						Yes	M,N	Yes	P1
Naturally occurring	Yes					Yes	M,N	Yes	Yes	Yes
Enhanced by ficain and papain	Yes	Yes			Yes			Yes	P1	Yes
Destroyed by ficain and papain				Fya, Fyb		Yes	Yes
Displaying dosage Further information: Blood compatibility testing		Cc, Ee		Yes	Yes		Yes

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Kleihauer–Betke test

Author: Mikael Häggström
The Kleihauer–Betke test stains fetal red blood cells (cells containing HbF) dark reddish-pink, while adult red blood cells will be white to light pink.

Collection

EDTA-containing-tube.

Criteria for fetal cells

KB stain with green marks at cells counted as fetal (HbF) cells, and red marks at incompletely colored cells at top and a too small cell at right.

To count, a fetal blood cell should be:

• Stained more than approximately half of what is seen in control.
• Not be nucleated or too big (white blood cell are generally also stained).
• Not be too small.

Semi-quantification

This is done for Rh-positive mothers to estimate the severity of a suspected feto-maternal hemorrhage, which can be suspected by various clinical findings (including neonatal anemia, stillbirth, intrauterine growth restriction, hydrops fetalis, decreased or absent fetal movements, non-reassuring fetal heart rate tracing, sinusoidal fetal tracing, and fetal tachyarrythmias, placenta previa with bleeding, and placental abruption).

10HPFs (in 40x) are scanned, and fetal RBCs are counted (cells per 10 HPFs, not average per HPF), and classified as:

• 0 - Negative
• 1 - Rare
• 2-5 - Few
• 6-10 - Moderate
• >10 - Abundant

Quantification

This is done for Rh-negative mothers to estimate the number of Rho(D) immune globulin vials to administer.

2000 cells are counted, in order to give a percentage calculated as:

• Fetal RBCs (given in%) = (Fetal RBC count) / (Total cell count) *100

Alternatively, an acceptable estimation of at least 2000 cells can be done by using a micrograph (or a microscopy grid) to estimate the mean number of cells in a certain area, and using the same mean to estimate the number of cells in equally sized areas:
1. Count cells (both adult and fetal) until reaching 100 cells (including each cell in square by square if using a microscopy grid). Take note of how large micrograph area (or how many grid squares) were counted (here designated as x amount), and how many fetal RBCs were counted.
2. Pick another random location (you may randomize again if it is of a significantly different cell density, but do not let your decision be influenced by the number of fetal RBCs in the area or near its edge). Count the total number of cells in the same area size (or same x number of squares), and how many of them are fetal RBCs.
3. Pick another location again, and count the number of cells in the same area size, and how many of them are fetal RBCs.

• If a count of 200-300 cells only shows 0 or 1 fetal RBC, there only needs to be 1 vial of 300 micrograms Rho(D) immune globulin, and the rest of the steps in this section can be skipped.

Standard deviation	Count cells in following number of areas
Up to 6	3
7	4
8	5
9	6-7
10	8
11	10
12	12

• Calculate how much the count for the second and third areas deviated from 100, and take the average thereof, which will be used as standard deviation. If the standard deviation is higher than 12, count a total of 2000 cells regardless of areas and calculate as per formula above, and the rest of the steps can be skipped.
• Use the table at right to estimate how many areas in total you need to count in order to have a mean number of cells per area with an acceptable confidence interval.

4. After having counted the needed number of areas, calculate the average of the number of cells per area (or per x number of squares), and assume that number for the rest of the counting.
5. Divide 2000 by the number of cells per area, and round that up to know the number of areas you need to perform the next step on in order to presumably have a total of 2000 cells (including previously counted areas).
6. In those additional areas, only count the number of fetal cells per area (or x number of squares), and add that to the fetal cells from previous areas.

Fetal RBCs (given in%) = (Fetal RBC count) / (Presumable total cell count) *100

Example:

• 

  100 cells are counted, and their area is marked with a rectangle.

• 

  A new location is randomly chosen, and inside the same rectangular area, 94 cells are counted. This is a deviation 6 cells compared to the first count.

• 

  A third area of the same size yields a count of 108 cells, deviating 8 from 100. The standard deviation used is therefore the mean of 6 and 8, which is 7. As per the table, one more area needs to be counted.

• 

  The third area yields 110 cells. The average number of cells per area is now calculated as the mean of 100, 94, 108 and 110, which is 103.

• 

  With an average of 103 cells per area, the number of areas needed to presumably include at least 2000 cells in our case is another 16.

The sum of all fetal RBCs in all areas in this example is 45. The presumable total cell count is 103 * 20 = 2060. Thus:

• Fetal RBCs (given in%) = 45 / 2060 * 100 = 2.2%

Calculation of number of vials

Assuming that a vial of 300 micrograms of Rho(D) immune globulin will protect against 30 mL of fetal blood, the number of vials needed to compensate for the fetal-maternal transfusion is calculated as following, rounded up, or rounded to the closest full number and then adding 1.

Number of vials = Fetal RBCs in% * 1.7

For example, with 2.2% fetal RBCs, the number of vials would be 4 or 5.

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Thromboelastography

Author: Mikael Häggström, M.D.

Interpretation

Normal thromboelastogram with parameters.

Parameters derived from thromboelastography are mainly:

• R time: Time to initial clot formation (that is, amplitude deviation from baseline)
• K time: Time from initial clot formation until reaching 20 mm in amplitude
• Alpha angle (α): Angle between the baseline at initial clot formation, and a tangent line that intersects the tracing curve.
• Maximum amplitude (MA): Maximum deviation of tracing to baseline.
• A₃₀: Amplitude 30 minutes after reaching maximum amplitude.

Following are examples of thromboelastography patterns and recommended treatments.

Condition	Appearance	Main treatment
Normal
Hemodilution or clotting factor deficiency		Fresh frozen plasma
Fibrinogen deficiency		Cryoprecipitate
Low or dysfunctional platelets		Platelets
Thrombosis		Anticoagulant
Primary fibrinolysis		Antifibrinolytics or tranexamic acid
Secondary fibrinolysis		Treating disseminated intravascular coagulation

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Peripheral blood smear

Author: Mikael Häggström
Look at and comment separately on white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. You generally don't need to aim for a perfect report, because for most purposes, a peripheral smear is a relatively simple screening test, and clinicians may opt to perform for example flow cytometry and/or a bone marrow biopsy if they want a better evaluation.

Comprehensiveness

On this resource, the following formatting is used for comprehensiveness:

• Minimal depth
• (Moderate depth)
• ((Comprehensive))

Other legend

<< Decision needed between alternatives separated by / signs >>
{{Common findings / In case of findings}}
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Oil immersion microscopy

This is preferred for light microscopy of peripheral blood smears in order to achieve a very high magnification. First use low or medium power to center on suspicious cells, or where red or white blood cells are best appreciated. Put a drop of immersion oil on the location and switch to the immersion objective. Then, whenever there's oil on a slide, always think twice before switching between objectives so as to avoid getting oil on any of your dry objectives (which is a bit tedious to clean off).

Red blood cells

Automated values

When available, automatic quantification of mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and red blood cell (RBC) distribution width (RDW), usually as part of CBC panel, generally decides whether you will call the sample "normocytic" versus "microcytic"/"macrocytic" and/or "anisocytotic", even if it is not clearly visible in the microscope. If automated values are not available, compare RBC sizes to lymphocyte nuclei, which should normally be the same size. If mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) are normal, but you still see multiple RBCs with central pallor greater than 50% of the diameter, you can report it as "Increased central pallor", and you may add "indicating iron deficiency" if it is compatible with the clinical history.

Automated values can be graded as follows:

Interpretation	Mild	Moderate	Marked
Microcytosis	MCV : 70 - 79	MCV : 60 - 69	MCV <60
Macrocytosis	MCV : 100 - 115	MCV : 115 - 125	MCV >125
Hypochromasia	MCH : 23 - 26	MCH : 21 - 23	MCH <20
Anisocytosis	RDW: 14.5 or 16 - 18	RDW : 18 - 22 or 26	RDW > 22 or 26

Morphologic findings

Look for poikilocytosis (red blood cells of abnormal shapes). These are counted as a percentage of visible red blood cells:

	Image	Rare/Occasional	Moderate amount of	Many/Abundant
Polychromasia		3 - 5%	5 - 25%	>25%
Spherocytes		1 - 5%	5 - 25%	>25%
Schistocytes		up to 2%	2 - 25%	>25%
Target cells (codocytes)		up to 3%	3 - 25%	>25%
Tear drop cells		up to 2%	2 - 25%	>25%
Burr cells (echinocytes)		1 - 3%	3 - 10%	>10%
Sickle cells (drepanocytes)		3 - 5%	5 - 25%	>25%
Elliptocytes		1 - 5%	5 - 25%	>25%
Basophilic stipplings		up to 2%	2 - 25%	>25%
Howell Jolly bodies		up to 1%	2 - 3 %	>3%

Burr cells versus spur cells

• 

  Burr cell (echinocyte)

• 

  Spur cell (acanthocyte)

Burr cells are distinguished from spur cells by having more equally distributed and rounded projections. They are usually artifactual. However, they may also be caused by renal insufficiency, so if this is present, a report may include "Occasional/Multiple echinocytes, consistent with renal insufficiency".

Intraerythrocytic findings

• 

  When seeing what appears to a platelet overlying a red blood cells (as pictured), confirm that there is a halo.

• 

  Otherwise, make sure it is not babesia (pictured) or malaria (images below).

• 

  Malaria, showing appearance at different intraerythrocytic blood stages.

• 

  If malaria is suspected, also make a thick blood film.

Platelets

If CBC is performed, use count to determine whether platelets are "normal in number" or whether there is "thrombocytopenia" or "thrombocytosis". If no CBC, count platelets within a high power oil immersed field, which should normally be 8 to 20.

A giant platelet.

Large platelets are those with a diameter greater than 4 microns. Giant platelets are those with a diameter greater than 7 microns (larger than a normal red blood cell). Example report:

Numerous large and giant platelets(, suggesting an increased platelet turnover)(( such as in immune thrombocytopenic purpura. They may also be present in myeloproliferative neoplasms, myelodysplasia, and some congenital thrombocytopenia syndromes, including Bernard-Soulier syndrome and MYH9-related disorders.))

In thrombocytopenia from automatic counting, look in particular for:

• Clumping of platelets (which can cause a falsely low automatic platelet count). If present, check with the lab if it was sent in EDTA (which may cause artefactual clumping) and ask to have a blood sample sent in sodium citrate instead. Also, look for satellitosis (platelets attached around white blood cells).
• Schistocytes among red blood cells.

White blood cells

Comparison of monoblast, promonocyte and monocyte. Further information: Suspected blasts on peripheral blood smear

Look for:

• 

  Blast cells, generally having large nucleus, immature chromatin, a prominent nucleolus, scant cytoplasm and few or no cytoplasmic granules. This example has an Auer rod (to the left of the nucleus). Further information: Suspected blasts on peripheral blood smear

• 

  Hypersegmented neutrophils. This is abnormal when more than half of neutrophils have at least 4 segments, or more than 5% of neutrophils have more than 5 segments.

• 

  In patients with known chronic lymphocytic leukemia, estimate the percentage of prolymphocytes, which are medium-sized lymphocytes with prominent nucleoli. A percentage of less than 5% can be reported as such.

• 

  When smudge cells constitute more than 10% of white blood cells, or in patients with CLL, a separate smear with a drop of serum albumin to every four or five drops of blood should be made to stabilize cell membranes. A semi-quantification of different cell lines should then be made on the albumin slide, whereas white and red blood cell morphology should still be made on the original slide, since it is altered by albumin.

Report

Example report:

Normochromic normocytic red blood cells. Red blood cells show <normal morphology / anisopoikilocytosis with occasional ___>. [[If thrombocytopenia, also add "Schistocytes are not significantly increased" if applicable.]] {{Leukocytosis with neutrophilia / lymphocytosis.}} White blood cells show no left shift or blasts. Platelets show no evidence of clumping, and show normal granularity. (Causes of the above findings include ___.)

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Platelet aggregation study

Author: Mikael Häggström

On for example optical densitometry, a first and second wave of platelet aggregation is seen, in this case for an ADP-initiated aggregation.

In a platelet aggregation study, the aggregation process is started by different agonists (ADP, epinephrine etc.) and the aggregation pattern can usually conform into any of the following patterns:

Platelet aggregation function by disorders and agonists

	ADP	Epinephrine	Collagen	Ristocetin
P2Y receptor defect (including Clopidogrel)	Decreased	Normal	Normal	Normal
Adrenergic receptor defect	Normal	Decreased	Normal	Normal
Collagen receptor defect	Normal	Normal	Decreased or absent	Normal
Von Willebrand disease Bernard–Soulier syndrome	Normal	Normal	Normal	Decreased or absent
Glanzmann's thrombasthenia Afibrinogenemia	Decreased	Decreased	Decreased	Normal or decreased
Storage pool deficiency	Absent second wave			Partial
Aspirin or aspirin-like disorder	Absent second wave		Absent	Normal

Further reading

• Practical-hemostasis.com

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Bone marrow

Author: Mikael Häggström

Bone marrow aspirate showing normal "trilineage hematopoiesis":
- Myelomonocytic cells: an eosinophil myelocyte marked
- Erythroid cells: an orthochromatic erythroblast marked
- Megakaryocytic cells.

Autopsy

Using pliers or similar tool, squeeze some bone marrow from a rib.

Microscopic evaluation

• Confirm trilineage hematopoiesis (see image).
• Look for apparent cellular atypia or decrease of cellular diversity.

Report

Example in a normal case:

Bone marrow from rib (or other location if applicable): Trilineage hematopoiesis. There is no evidence of malignancy.

Bone marrow biopsy

Gross processing

• Ensure that the biopsy is properly fixed (generally at least 2 hours).
• Measure length and diameter of each fragment.
• If the biopsy is received in a zinc-containing fixative, rinse it for about 2 minutes, such as placing the cassette in a container under running water (and block any sink enough so that the cassette won't float away).

Histopathology of bone marrow with insufficient decalcification, wherein the bony trabeculae may get pushed by the microtome blade and plow away the cells of interest as displayed. To compensate, thicker sections may be taken, also making evaluation harder.

• Put in decalcifying solution, preferably using a type that is optimal for performing subsequent immunohistochemistry. Generally decalcify the specimen for about 15 minutes initially, and palpate the specimen to check whether it is still firm. If it is, decalcify another 5-10 minutes and check again. Rather have it a little bit too soft than a little bit too firm. Be careful to follow grossing guidelines for bone marrows, since even a small aberration in the processing is likely to be noticed as creating artifacts.

Gross report example

The specimen is received in AZF solution and consists of __ core needle bone marrow biopsy fragment(s) measuring __ cm in length and 0.2 cm in diameter. The specimen is entirely submitted for microscopic examination in one cassette following decalcification.

Microscopic evaluation

Evaluate the following:

Bone marrow aspirate

Find a location where bone marrow cells can be seen individually, preferably with minimal peripheral blood among them. Sometimes it is between trabeculae and sometimes it is in the surrounding area. Perform a differential count by counting 500 cells and dividing the numbers by 5 to get their percentages. Don't count cells that don't have a cytoplasm or nucleus. If you receive several slides, count about the same number of cells from each slide, but don't count cells from slides where the cell types are more indistinct.

• Myeloid/erythroid ratio, usually defined as the ratio between the number of neutrophil granulocytes and precursors versus the number of erythroblasts. Depending on source, the lower limit of the normal range for this ratio bone marrow aspirate smears in adults is 1 to 2, and the upper limit is 5 to 8. In histologic sections, the normal range is 1.5 – 3.0. Some hematologists also include eosinophils, basophils and monocytes, as well as their precursors, in the myeloid number, but this has only a minor effect on the M:E ratio in normal individuals. Still, if you are to calculate the value for a senior, check their preference first.

In a bone marrow count, nucleated red blood cells count into the total percentage of cells (but does not count into percentage of white blood cells in peripheral blood).

Bone marrow biopsy, H&E stain

• Adequacy: There should preferably be 5 intertrabecular spaces.
• Cellularity: This is a rather rough estimation of the area of hematopoietic cells divided by the area of all intertrabecular matter, which otherwise mainly consists of fat cells and a small interstitial space. Areas of bone, hemorrhage or artifacts are not counted. In patients 20-80 years, the percentage should be about 100 minus age, such as 40% in a 60 year old patient.
• Thrombopoiesis: There are normally about 3 megakaryocytes per 40x field.
• Look for any granuloma or cancer metastasis

Bone marrow biopsy, other stains

Generally including:

Ring sideroblast, defined by five or more perinuclear iron granules that encompass at least 1/3 of the nuclear circumference.

• Iron stain: Look at approximately 100 cells and semi-quantify the presence of any ring sideroblasts.
• Reticulin to grade the amount of fibrosis.
• CD3 and CD20 to highlight T and B cells, respectively.

Microscopic report

Example template:

On this resource, the following formatting is used for comprehensiveness:

• Minimal depth
• (Moderate depth)
• ((Comprehensive))

Other legend

<< Decision needed between alternatives separated by / signs >>
{{Common findings / In case of findings}}
[[Comments]]
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SOURCE: Bone marrow aspirate and biopsy CLINICAL INFORMATION: {{Lymphocytosis / Pancytopenia / Anemia etc }} DIAGNOSIS: PERIPHERAL BLOOD: {{Lymphocytosis / Pancytopenia / Anemia etc }} BONE MARROW, {{POSTERIOR ILIAC CREST,}} ASPIRATE AND BIOPSY: {{Chronic/Acute lymphocytic/myeloid leukemia.}} See description and comment. GROSS DESCRIPTION: [[As per gross report above.]] MICROSCOPIC DESCRIPTION: PERIPHERAL SMEAR: WBC:__ x103/ul RBC:__ x106/ul HGB:__ g/dl HCT:__ % MCV:__ fl MCHC:__ g/dl RDW-CV:__ % PLT:__ x103/ul RETIC:__ % DIFFERENTIAL(%): NEUTR/BANDS:_ LYMPHS:_ MONOS:_ EOS:_ BASOS:_ BLASTS:_ MYELOS:_ METAS:_ NRBCS/100WBCS:_ PLASMA CELLS:_ MORPHOLOGY: Red Blood Cells: No significant abnormality. White Blood Cells: No significant abnormality. Platelets: No significant abnormality. BONE MARROW ASPIRATE: Left / RIGHT / UNDESIGNATED SITE CELLULARITY ESTIMATE: Adequate. / Hypocellular and hemodilute. / Hypercellular. / Too few cells for morphologic evaluation. MARROW DIFFERENTIAL Erythroblasts: __% Blasts: __% Neutrophils/precursors: __% Eosinophils: __% Basophils: __% Lymphocytes: __% Monocytes: __% Plasma Cells: __% M:E ratio: __:__ ERYTHROPOIESIS: Maturing. GRANULOPOIESIS: Maturing. MEGAKARYOCYTES: Present. LYMPHOCYTES: Mature. PLASMA CELLS: Rare without atypia. BONE MARROW TOUCH PREPARATION: _ BONE MARROW BIOPSY: Left / RIGHT / UNDESIGNATED SITE SPECIMEN ADEQUACY: Satisfactory. / Limited. / Unsatisfactory. CELLULARITY:_ _%: Normocellular / Hypercellular / Hypocellular for age. / Variable ( _ %- _ %, overall _ %) / Cannot assess cellularity due to small biopsy. {{With aspirative artifact.}} Decalcified bone marrow biopsy demonstrates ____________________ BM Erythropoiesis _ BM Cellularity _ BM Megakaryocytes _ BM Myelopoiesis _ BONE MARROW IRON STAIN: Storage iron _/4 on aspirate smear with / without ring sideroblasts. SPECIAL STAINS: Reticulin Stain: ___ reticulin fibrosis (_+/3+) FLOW CYTOMETRY: No immunophenotypic evidence for abnormal myeloid maturation, an increase in blasts, or a lymphoproliferative disorder (see attached report). COMMENT: {{Cytogenetic study and next generation sequencing panel for myeloid neoplasm are pending.}} All stains have functional controls.