UAMS Hematology Exam 2 UPDATED
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
Wright Stain - CORRECT ANSWER - Used to visualize blood smears and bone marrow
New Methylene Blue - CORRECT ANSWER - Supravital stain used to visualize
reticulocytes and Heinz
Prussian Blue - CORRECT ANSWER - Iron stain; used to visualize cellular components
that contain iron
What is clinically significant? - CORRECT ANSWER - Never call an abnormal
morphology if only one or two cells are observed
Must be observed in every field
Most findings are non-specific
Anisocytosis (11.5%-14.5%) - CORRECT ANSWER - Variation in size; deterimined by
RDW
Poikilocytosis - CORRECT ANSWER - Variation in shape
MCV (80-100 fL) - CORRECT ANSWER - Size of RBC; can be increased do to
agglutination
MCH (26-34 pg) - CORRECT ANSWER - Amount of hemoglobin in cell; usually 1/3 of
MCV
MCHC (32-36%) - CORRECT ANSWER - Hemoglobin and surface volume
, Polychromasia - CORRECT ANSWER - Pale blue-gray RBCs with residual RNA;
reticulocytes with new methylene blue stain; increased BM output
Ex: post hemorrhage, hemolytic anemia, loss of RBCs, post treatment of IDA
Normal RBCs - CORRECT ANSWER - Biconcave discs with a central pallor about 1/3 of
the cell; 7 microns; slight variation in size and shape; 6-8 um
Macrocytosis (>100 fL) - CORRECT ANSWER - Due to impaired DNA synthesis in the
nucleus; decreased cellular divisions in immature RBCs (ovalocytes); increased RBC turnover;
changes in membrane lipids
Microcytosis (<80 fL) - CORRECT ANSWER - Due to impaired hemoglobin synthesis;
deprivation of hemoglobin molecules will increase cell division
Ex: iron deficiency anemia, thalassemia, & lead poisoning
Ovalocytes (elliptocytes) - CORRECT ANSWER - Hereditary or acquired condition;
defect in protein-membrane spectrin
Ex: ovalocytosis, sickle cell, IDA, RBC enzyme deficiencies, pernicious anemia, &
miscellaneous anemia
Sickle Cell (Drepanocytes) - CORRECT ANSWER - Abnormal hemoglobin S produces
tactoids; amino acid sequence, decreased solubility, decreased oxygen tension; REPORT EVEN
IN SMALL NUMBERS
Acanthocytes (spur) - CORRECT ANSWER - Membranes have altered lipid content;
increased cholesterol; have a normal life span; slightly decreased osmotic fragility
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
Wright Stain - CORRECT ANSWER - Used to visualize blood smears and bone marrow
New Methylene Blue - CORRECT ANSWER - Supravital stain used to visualize
reticulocytes and Heinz
Prussian Blue - CORRECT ANSWER - Iron stain; used to visualize cellular components
that contain iron
What is clinically significant? - CORRECT ANSWER - Never call an abnormal
morphology if only one or two cells are observed
Must be observed in every field
Most findings are non-specific
Anisocytosis (11.5%-14.5%) - CORRECT ANSWER - Variation in size; deterimined by
RDW
Poikilocytosis - CORRECT ANSWER - Variation in shape
MCV (80-100 fL) - CORRECT ANSWER - Size of RBC; can be increased do to
agglutination
MCH (26-34 pg) - CORRECT ANSWER - Amount of hemoglobin in cell; usually 1/3 of
MCV
MCHC (32-36%) - CORRECT ANSWER - Hemoglobin and surface volume
, Polychromasia - CORRECT ANSWER - Pale blue-gray RBCs with residual RNA;
reticulocytes with new methylene blue stain; increased BM output
Ex: post hemorrhage, hemolytic anemia, loss of RBCs, post treatment of IDA
Normal RBCs - CORRECT ANSWER - Biconcave discs with a central pallor about 1/3 of
the cell; 7 microns; slight variation in size and shape; 6-8 um
Macrocytosis (>100 fL) - CORRECT ANSWER - Due to impaired DNA synthesis in the
nucleus; decreased cellular divisions in immature RBCs (ovalocytes); increased RBC turnover;
changes in membrane lipids
Microcytosis (<80 fL) - CORRECT ANSWER - Due to impaired hemoglobin synthesis;
deprivation of hemoglobin molecules will increase cell division
Ex: iron deficiency anemia, thalassemia, & lead poisoning
Ovalocytes (elliptocytes) - CORRECT ANSWER - Hereditary or acquired condition;
defect in protein-membrane spectrin
Ex: ovalocytosis, sickle cell, IDA, RBC enzyme deficiencies, pernicious anemia, &
miscellaneous anemia
Sickle Cell (Drepanocytes) - CORRECT ANSWER - Abnormal hemoglobin S produces
tactoids; amino acid sequence, decreased solubility, decreased oxygen tension; REPORT EVEN
IN SMALL NUMBERS
Acanthocytes (spur) - CORRECT ANSWER - Membranes have altered lipid content;
increased cholesterol; have a normal life span; slightly decreased osmotic fragility
