15 September 2025 (Monday) - NEQAS 2505 BF

I got hold of the results of NEQAS 2505BF today…In my notes for BF1 I wrote
 
Rbc 
 
NRBCs
Howell Jolly Bodies
echinocytes 
anisopoikilocytosis
 
Wbc
 
Lymphocytosis
Hypersegmented neuts
 
Plts
 
Thrombocytosis
 

I spotted the salient features (if the consensus view was correct) but I am shouting “I Told You So!!” very loudly as the expert opinion started off by saying “There is a problem with this case as there is a lack of clinical information” and then went on to list no end of possible diagnoses.

I’ve always said that asking us to give a diagnosis on the strength of incredibly limited information is very unreasonable, and the expert opinion would seem to be agreeing with me.

 
For BF2 I said:
 
Rbc
 
NRBCs
Polychromasia
Target cells
Blister cells
 
Wbc
 
Neutrophilia
myelocytes
blast cells
 
Plts
 
thrombocytopenia
 
The blister cells had me thinking of a G6PD deficiency, but what were the blast cells all about?
The expert opinion felt this was either G6PD or an unstable haemoglobin. Bearing in mind that unstable haemoglobin is into rocking horse poo territory, I’m claiming that as a result.