White Cell Morphology Exam


Toxic neutrophil A toxic neutrophil in a feline blood film.
This section is used to report the finding of abnormalities of leukocyte morphology identified during microscopic examination of the stained blood film. It is an important adjunct to the differential counts.

"Toxic change" in cells of the neutrophil line is the most common entry in this field. A dramatic example of toxic change is shown in the feline neutrophil at the right. The underlying disease process was a bacterial infection of the pleural cavity (pyothorax). More detailed information on toxic change is in the Hematology Atlas.

Abnormalities of lymphoid cells ("reactive" morphology or immature forms) are also fairly common, and are suggestive of an ongoing immune response to antigenic stimulation.

Last Updated: September 1997