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Blood smear

Definition

A blood smear is a blood test that gives information about the number and shape of blood cells. It is often done as part of or along with a complete blood count (CBC).

How the Test is Performed

A blood sample is needed.

The blood sample is sent to a lab. There, the lab technician looks at it under a microscope. Or, the blood may be examined by an automated machine.

The smear provides this information:

• The number and kinds of white blood cells (differential, or percentage of each type of cell)

• The number and kinds of abnormally shaped blood cells

• A rough estimate of white blood cell and platelet counts

How to Prepare for the Test

No special preparation is necessary.

How the Test will Feel

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or a slight bruise. This soon goes away.

Why the Test is Performed

This test may be done as part of a general health exam to help diagnose many illnesses. Or, your health care provider may recommend this test if you have signs of:

• Any known or suspected blood disorder

• Cancer

• Leukemia

A blood smear may also be done to monitor the side effects of chemotherapy or to help diagnose an infection, such as malaria.

Normal Results

Red blood cells (RBCs) normally are of similar size and color and are a lighter color in the center. The blood smear is considered normal if there is:

• Normal appearance of cells

• Normal white blood cell differential

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results.

What Abnormal Results Mean

Abnormal results mean the size, shape, color, or coating of the RBCs is not normal.

Some abnormalities may be graded on a 4-point scale:

• 1+ means one quarter of cells are affected

• 2+ means one half of cells are affected

• 3+ means three quarters of cells are affected

• 4+ means all of the cells are affected

Presence of cells called target cells may be due to:

• Abnormal hemoglobin, the protein in RBCs that carries oxygen (hemoglobinopathies)

• Deficiency of an enzyme called lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase

• Iron deficiency

• Liver disease

• Spleen removal (splenectomy)

Presence of sphere-shaped cells may be due to:

• Low number of RBCs due to the body destroying them (immune hemolytic anemia)

• Low number of RBCs due to some RBCs shaped like spheres (hereditary spherocytosis)

• Increased breakdown of RBCs

Presence of RBCs with an oval shape may be a sign of hereditary elliptocytosis or hereditary ovalocytosis. These are conditions in which RBCs are abnormally shaped.

Presence of fragmented cells (also called schistocytes) may be due to:

• Artificial heart valve

• Blood disorder that causes blood clots to form in small blood vessels around the body and leads to a low platelet count (thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura)

• Disorder in which the proteins that control blood clotting become overactive (disseminated intravascular coagulation)

• Infection in the digestive system producing toxic substances that destroy RBCs, causing kidney injury (hemolytic uremic syndrome)

Presence of a type of immature RBCs called normoblasts may be due to:

• Blood disorder called erythroblastosis fetalis that affects a fetus or newborn

• Cancer that has spread to bone marrow

• Disorder in which there is excessive breakdown of hemoglobin (thalassemia)

• Disorder of the bone marrow in which the marrow is replaced by fibrous scar tissue (myelofibrosis)

• Removal of spleen (splenectomy)

• Severe breakdown of RBCs (hemolysis)

• Tuberculosis that has spread from the lungs to other parts of the body through the blood (miliary tuberculosis)

The presence of cells called burr cells may indicate:

• Abnormally high level of nitrogen waste products in the blood (uremia)

The presence of cells called spur cells may indicate:

• Inability to fully absorb dietary fats through the intestines (abetalipoproteinemia)

• Severe liver disease

The presence of teardrop-shaped cells may indicate:

• Anemia caused by bone marrow not producing normal blood cells due to toxins or tumor cells (myelophthisic process)

• Cancer in the bone marrow

• Myelofibrosis

• Severe iron deficiency

• Thalassemia major

The presence of Howell-Jolly bodies (a type of granule inside the red blood cells) may indicate:

• Bone marrow does not produce enough healthy blood cells (myelodysplasia)

• Sickle cell anemia

• Spleen has been removed (splenectomy)

The presence of Heinz bodies (bits of altered hemoglobin) may indicate:

• Alpha thalassemia

• Congenital hemolytic anemia

• Disorder in which RBCs break down when the body is exposed to certain medicines or is stressed because of infection (G6PD deficiency)

• Unstable form of hemoglobin

The presence of slightly immature RBCs may indicate:

• Anemia with bone marrow recovery

• Hemolytic anemia

• Hemorrhage

The presence of basophilic stippling (a spotted appearance) may indicate:

• Disorder of the bone marrow in which the marrow is replaced by fibrous scar tissue (myelofibrosis)

• Lead poisoning

The presence of sickle cells may indicate sickle cell anemia.

Risks

There is little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.

Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may include:

• Excessive bleeding

• Fainting or feeling lightheaded

• Multiple punctures to locate veins

• Hematoma (blood buildup under the skin)

• Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)

References

Bain BJ. The peripheral blood smear. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 143.

Lim HI, Lee A. Peripheral blood smear. In: Leppert BC, Kelly CR, eds. Netter's integrated review of medicine: pathogens to treatment. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 40.

Prozora S, Gallagher PG. Hereditary elliptocytosis, hereditary pyropoikilocytosis, and related disorders. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 508.

Thom CS, Lambert MP. Blood disorders. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 138.

Review Date: 3/11/2024

Reviewed By: Frank D. Brodkey, MD, FCCM, Associate Professor, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.