Spherocytosis laboratory findings

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

• In peripheral blood smears, many of the red blood cells will appear abnormally small and will lack the central pallor–the lighter area in the middle of a RBC as seen under a microscope.

• The CBC (cell blood count) laboratory values will show elevated MCHC.

• The splenic cords are congested with red blood cells to be destroyed and macrophages of the spleen will show signs of actively destroying erythrocytes (erythrophagocytosis). This will result in an elevated bilirubin level.

• The bone marrow in its role of manufacturing red blood cells will display hyperplasia, the increased activity of replacing RBCs. As a result, immature red blood cell-or reticulocyte-counts will appear elevated.

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