A Patient Sample Comes Off an Automated Cell Counter with a Failure

question 15

Multiple Choice

A patient sample comes off an automated cell counter with a failure of the red cell "rule of three." The red count is lower than expected given the hemoglobin. The MCV, MCH, and MCHC are elevated. Which of the following is the most likely reason for this failure?

• A) Megaloblastic anemia
• B) Lyse-resistant red cells
• C) Cold agglutinin
• D) Lipemia

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