I work in a hospital hematology laboratory. Every few months we receive
proficiency test samples. In the past, numerous varieties of leukemias,
cell types, various parasites, and even artifacts have been showcased.
It's great because one gets to see items that may never present
otherwise.
I am stumpped with the latest offering.
CASE:
27 year old male traveler from Africa with fever and headache. That's
the entire history given and
A Giemsa stained blood smear.
On low power, the blood film looks like an increased platelet count but,
upon oil immersion observation, the platelet count is normal but many
platelet sized items are present. Predominantly round "organisms"
approximately 2 microns in diameter with a thin membrane are seen. They
are extracellular, free in the plasma. The interior contains from a few
grains of basophilic or dark purple particles to nearly filling the
interior. The contents resembles typical stain precipitate but finer and
restricted to the interior of these spherules. There are a few about 1
micron and 3 microns and an occasional oval or oblong one.
Can anyone make a suggestion as to what it may possibly be?
Organism?
Artifact?
I dislike not being able to offer an answer before going to the
Pathologist.
Thank you.
-mpc mcorriss at gate.net
