Which test gives information on blood cell morphology?

• A. Mean corpuscular volume
• B. Mean red blood cell volume
• C. Peripheral blood smear
• D. Hematocrit

Answer: (C)

Direct visualization of cells is needed to assess their form. A peripheral blood smear provides a stained slide examined under a microscope, allowing you to see the size, shape, and color of red blood cells, as well as any abnormal forms, inclusions, or platelet and white cell morphology. This makes it possible to detect features like anisocytosis, poikilocytosis, hypochromia, target cells, schistocytes, and other morphology changes that indicate specific conditions. By contrast, measurements like mean corpuscular volume estimate average red cell size without showing actual shapes, and hematocrit indicates the proportion of blood volume that is red cells without revealing morphology. Therefore, the test that gives information on blood cell morphology is the peripheral blood smear.