Basophilic stippling are inclusions of aggregated ribosomes. They are a non-specific finding that can indicate regenerative anemias, such as lead poisoning and thalassemia among others.

Iron Deficiency Anemia
Microcytosis and hypochromia of red blood cells. Note increased area of central pallor.

Megaloblastic Anemia (Hypersegmented Neutrophils)
Megaloblastic anemia is often a result of Vitamin B-12 or folate deficiency, it is characterized by the presence of I, ovalocytes (oval-shaped RBCs) and II, hypersegmented neutrophils, on peripheral blood smear.

Megaloblastic Anemia (Oval macrocytes)
Megaloblastic anemia is often a result of Vitamin B-12 or folate deficiency, it is characterized by the presence of I, ovalocytes (oval-shaped RBCs) and II, hypersegmented neutrophils, on peripheral blood smear.

Sickle Cell Anemia
Elongated, crescent-shaped and sickle RBCs. Note target cells (arrow) and Howell-Jolly body (both due to autosplenectomy secondary to repeated splenic infarcts). (Courtesy of Dr. M. Reis)

Microangiopathic Hemolytic Anemia
Fragmented RBCs (schistocytes). Note Helmet cell and triangle-shaped cell (arrows).

Small, round, densely staining red blood cells with no central area of pallor.

Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia
Agglutination of red blood cells (arrow).

Note Rouleaux

Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. Note blast cell with Auer rod.

Tear drop RBCs (poikilocytes) in the centre field. (Courtesy of Dr. D. Sutton)

(Bone Marrow)
Plasma cells in marrow. Note Binucleate malignant plasma cell.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Increased number of small, well-differentiated lymphocytes. Note “smudge cells.”