Arte?-Fact? - Granulocytes - Calendar 2007 month 7

Granulocytes showing storage related degradation (for example, vacuolisation) can be seen in EDTA blood samples from healthy persons after 1-2 days (here after 48 hours). In samples from severely ill patients this can occur already after several hours.

Granulocytes with typical reddish granulation from a patient treated with granulocyte growth factor (GCS-F).

Storage of normal EDTA blood over a period of two days can falsely elevate the number of band cells (bottom right).

These so-called pseudo-Pelger’s nuclear anomalies with abnormal chromatin condensation and/or deficient nuclear segmentation are often found with viral infections, after chemotherapy, or with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Conversely, the true Pelger’s nuclear anomaly is hereditary and without pathological significance.