online laboratory continuing education for clinical laboratories and med techs

Erythrocyte Inclusions - Wright Stained Smears (Online Course)

Marjorie A. Spahn, MT (ASCP); Marybeth Fannon, MA, MT (ASCP)

This course describes and richly illustrates various erythrocyte inclusions, including basophilic stippling, Cabot rings, Pappenheimer bodies, siderotic granules, and Howell-Jolly bodies, making it productive for CE, exam reviewing, and cross training.

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An individual subscription includes access to Erythrocyte Inclusions - Wright Stained Smears and 47 other online courses. Earn CE to help meet laboratory continuing education requirements for AMT, ASCP, NCA, and more. Over 85 ASCLS P.A.C.E.® credits are available.

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Continuing Education Credits

  • P.A.C.E.® Contact Hours: 2.5 hour(s)
  • Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Science CE - General (Hematology): 2.5 hour(s)

Objectives

  • Define the term erythrocyte inclusion.
  • Explain why it is important to identify erythrocyte inclusions.
  • Discuss: reticulocytes (polychromasia), basophilic stippling, and Cabot rings with respect to: stain used, appearance, composition, and associated physiological defects.
  • Discuss: Pappenheimer bodies, siderotic granules, and Howell-Jolly bodies with respect to: stain used, appearance, composition, and associated physiological defects.
  • Discuss the use of Perl's Prussian blue iron stain to confirm the presence of iron containing granules.
  • Identify erythrocyte inclusions that may be present on a peripheral blood smear.

Course Outline

Click on a link in the outline to view a sample page from this course.

  • Introduction to Erythrocyte Inclusions
  • Characteristics of Reticulocytes (Polychromasia)
      • Reticulocytes
      • More on Reticulocytes
      • Erythrocyte Production
      • Stress Reticulocytes
      • Normal Red Cells
      • Polychromatophilic Cells
      • Another Polychromatophilic Cell
      • Stress Reticulocyte
      • Polychromatophilic Cell Absence
      • Which of the following statements characterize a reticulocyte? (Choose ALL of the correct answers)
      • On a Wright's-stained smear, the blue/gray appearing non-nucleated red cells are called:
      • The presence of shift reticulocytes is an indication that red cells are leaving the marrow earlier t
      • This slide contains:
  • Characteristics of Basophilic Stippling
      • What is Basophilic Stippling?
      • More on Basophilic Stippling
      • Fine and Coarse Basophilic Stippling
      • Basophilic Stippling
      • Polychromatophilic Cell
      • Coarse Basophilic Stippling
      • Another Coarse Basophilic Stippling
      • What is the composition of basophilic stippling?
      • What kind of bone marrow activity is associated with fine basophilic stippling?
      • Disorders in which coarse basophilic stippling can be seen are: (Choose ALL of the correct answers)
      • The cells in the slide are normal cells.
      • The cells in this slide show:
      • The abnormalities that are seen on this slide are probably associated with which of the following conditions?
  • Characteristics of Howell-Jolly Bodies
      • What are Howell-Jolly Bodies?
      • More on Howell-Jolly Bodies
      • Howell-Jolly Body
      • Another Howell-Jolly Body
      • Howell-Jolly Bodies in Cytoplasm
      • What is the composition of Howell-Jolly bodies?
      • If present, how many Howell-Jolly bodies are usually seen within each erythrocyte?
      • In which of the following conditions would you expect to find Howell-Jolly bodies?
      • What abnormality is present in this slide?
      • This slide shows basophilic stippling.
      • What abnormality is present in this slide?
      • What abnormalities can be seen in this slide?
      • There are no abnormalities in this slide.
      • What abnormalities are present in this slide?
      • What abnormality is present in this slide?
  • Characteristics of Pappenheimer bodies and Siderotic granules
      • What are Pappenheimer bodies?
      • More on Pappenheimer bodies
      • Howell-Jolly body and Pappenheimer bodies
      • Cells Containing Pappenheimer Bodies
      • Basophilic Stippling contrasted with Pappenheimer Bodies
      • Howell-Jolly bodies and Pappenheimer bodies
      • Three Way Comparison
      • Siderotic Granules
      • Siderocytes and Ring Sideroblasts.
      • Siderocytes
      • Sideroblast
      • Another Sideroblast
      • Ring Sideroblast
      • Siderotic Granules
      • Ring Sideroblast
      • Which of the following statements best describes Pappenheimer bodies?
      • In a Wright's-stained smear, Pappenheimer bodies must be differentiated from basophilic stippling a
      • Match the following terms with the correct definition.
      • What is the reason for using Perl's Prussian blue stain?
      • In which of the following conditions are Pappenheimer bodies and siderocytes seen on the peripheral
      • Which of the following is considered a pathological finding?
      • The red cell inclusions present in this field are known as ______ Jolly bodies.
      • This slide shows fine basophilic stippling.
      • This smear shows:
      • The smear several Howell-Jolly bodies as well as several _____________ bodies.
      • This smear shows Pappenheimer bodies.
      • This Prussian blue stained smear shows:
      • The inclusion seen in the red cell just above center in this field is a ___________ body.
      • The red cell in the center of the field shows _________ ___________.
      • This smear shows several polychromatophilic red cells.
      • This slide contains a sideroblast.
      • The red cell in the center of the field contains a:
  • Characteristics of Cabot Rings
      • What are Cabot rings?
      • Cabot Rings
      • More Cabot Rings
      • Cabot Ring Impersonation
      • Which of the following statements best describes the appearance of Cabot rings?
      • Identify the conditions in which Cabot rings are occasionally seen.

Additional Information

Level of Instruction: Basic

Intended Audience: Medical laboratory science students, medical technologists and MLTs requiring review or cross training, pathology residents.

Course Description: This course explains and illustrates red cell inclusions seen in peripheral smears, in particular Howell-Jolly bodies, Pappenheimer bodies, polychromasia, basophilic stippling, and Cabot rings. Numerous practice and exam questions reinforce visual recognition skills.

About this Course: This course is part of a series of courses adapted for the web by MediaLab Inc. under license from Educational Materials for Health Professionals Inc. Dayton OH, 45420. Copyright EMHP Inc.



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basophilic stippling


Howell Jolly


polychromasia


Pappenheimer bodies