Blood containing a large number of ________ will yield false-positive results on the Ham's test.

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The Ham's test is used to evaluate for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), a rare disorder of red blood cells. The test is based on the principle that PNH red cells are susceptible to lysis by complement. Spherocytes, which are small, dense, spherical red cells lacking central pallor due to decreased membrane surface area, are also susceptible to this lysis. Therefore, a blood sample with a large number of spherocytes will give a false-positive result on the Ham's test. Target cells, sickle cells, and ovalocytes do not affect the result of the Ham's test.

Blood Containing a Large Number of ________ Will Yield False-Positive