Spherocytes - The arrow points to one of many spherocytes in this photo. The cells have assumed a spherical shape, having the normal shape of a bi-concave disc. This smear was from a newborn with ABO incompatibility. Note small size, darker color and loss of normal central pallor.

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Causes of spherocyte formation include hereditary spherocytosis and hemolytic anemias. When spherocytes are very small, they are referred to as microspherocytes. Spherocytes show increased fragility and do not survive as long as bi-concave discs. In newborns, a large number of spherocytes points to ABO incompatibility rather than other incompatibilities.

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