An end of feathered edge shows increased blue spicules; what does this indicate?

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Multiple Choice

An end of feathered edge shows increased blue spicules; what does this indicate?

Blue spicules at the end of the feathered edge point to a cell-rich smear. In Wright-stained smears, white blood cells and platelets stain blue/purple, while red cells are pink. When there are more cells—especially leukocytes or platelets—the edge becomes laden with these blue-staining cells, forming spicule-like projections. So this finding most closely indicates an elevated WBC or platelet count. It isn’t explained by a low RBC count, platelet clumping, or hemolysis, which produce different artifacts in the smear.

Blue spicules at the end of the feathered edge point to a cell-rich smear. In Wright-stained smears, white blood cells and platelets stain blue/purple, while red cells are pink. When there are more cells—especially leukocytes or platelets—the edge becomes laden with these blue-staining cells, forming spicule-like projections. So this finding most closely indicates an elevated WBC or platelet count. It isn’t explained by a low RBC count, platelet clumping, or hemolysis, which produce different artifacts in the smear.

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