Sickle cells · blood film

A sickle cell is a deformed, often crescent-shaped erythrocyte associated with haemoglobin S polymerisation.

Review a film area with distinguishable erythrocytes; integrate blood count, reticulocytes and haemoglobin analysis.

Describe elongation, pointed ends and accompanying abnormalities; their number varies.

Sickle cells suggest sickle cell disease without determining genotype.

Distinguish sickle cells, elliptocytes and fragments; assess shape on a good-quality film.

Polychromasia, target cells or inclusions may accompany haemoglobinopathy; interpret accompanying findings in context.

Morphology alone does not measure a crisis; symptoms, haemoglobin and organ involvement determine severity.

Absent sickle cells on one image do not exclude haemoglobinopathy; transfusion may alter the film.

Recognise the shape and confirm haemoglobinopathy with appropriate analysis without inferring a specific genotype.

• Sickle Cell Anemia - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf ↗
• Peripheral Blood Smear - Clinical Methods - NCBI Bookshelf ↗

Documentary review: 2026-10-12