Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) ASCP Practice Exam

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What feature is most often found in patients who have undergone a splenectomy on a Wright's stained blood smear?

Howell-Jolly bodies

Howell-Jolly bodies are small, round remnants of nuclear material that are typically found in red blood cells. These bodies can appear in the peripheral blood of patients who have had a splenectomy, which is the surgical removal of the spleen. The spleen plays a crucial role in filtering the blood and removing abnormal or damaged red blood cells as well as cellular debris, including Howell-Jolly bodies. After splenic removal, the absence of this filtration process allows for the persistence of these nuclear remnants in the bloodstream, leading to their increased presence on a Wright's stained blood smear.

Understanding this connection is vital, as Howell-Jolly bodies serve as an important indicator of the spleen’s absence and can also aid in diagnosing patients at risk for infections or other complications related to their splenectomy.

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