<p>Acute haemolysis: fragmented red cells (F), spherocytes (S) and free haemoglobin (= reddish smears) in a patient with gas gangrene, caused by Clostridium perfringens. (The acanthaceous appearing cells are no acanthocytes but red blood cells on the verge of disintegration.) </p>

<p>White blood cell count of 170,000/μL in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML-M4).</p>

<p>Blasts (33% in total) with Auer rods (-&gt;) in the peripheral blood (May-Grünwald-Giemsa stain) are sufficient proof of an acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).</p>

<p>White blood cell concentration 180,000/μL. Despite intensive search no granulocytes were detectable. Diagnosis: acute T lymphoblastic leukaemia </p> <p>(T-ALL).</p>

<p>Agglutinated red blood cells and marked polychromasia in a patient with haemolytic anaemia caused by cryoglobulins in Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia.</p>

<p>EDTA blood sample after one day of storage, which results in obvious anisocytosis of the platelets.</p>

<p>On the top right a morphologically atypical lymphocyte of a healthy individual with the abnormality resulting from prolonged storage of the EDTA blood (24 hours).</p>

<p>Cell description: </p> <p>Size: larger than normal lymphocytes </p> <p>Nucleus: oval, variable chromatin condensation </p> <p>Cytoplasm: Diffluent, often around red blood cells</p>

<p>Atypical promyelocyte in peripheral blood in a patient with AML-M3.</p>