Clinical Laboratory Hematology 3rd Edition by Shirlyn McKenzie, Lynne Williams

Exercise 22

A patient with a long history of anemia is referred to a hematologist for diagnosis. This patient recently was treated with a drug for an unrelated condition, but the therapy was discontinued following an acute episode of severe anemia. Other family members also appear to suffer from a similar condition. The hematologist suspects the patient has an unstable hemoglobin variant and asks for test suggestions. What laboratory results would best support the preliminary diagnosis? (Objective 10)
A) Heinz bodies observed upon staining, increased reticulocytes, bite cells on peripheral blood smear
B) decreased reticulocytes, decreased indices, target cells on smears
C) Howell-Jolly bodies and sickle cells observed on smears
D) increased WBC concentration with abnormal differential