Blood smear

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	Acute lymphocytic leukemia - photomicrograph	Formed elements of blood	Malaria, microscopic view of cellular parasites
Malaria, photomicrograph of cellular parasites	Red blood cells, elliptocytosis	Red blood cells, multiple sickle cells	Red blood cells, normal
Red blood cells, sickle and pappenheimer	Red blood cells, sickle cell	Red blood cells, spherocytosis	Red blood cells, target cells
Red blood cells, tear-drop shape

Peripheral smear

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 light-headed
• Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
• Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)

The accuracy of this test depends, in part, on the experience of the person looking at the sample. Experienced cell examiners can get a lot of information from the blood smear.

Review Date: 02/09/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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