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Posts & Updates

Case studies, bench reflections, diagnostic tool releases, and platform updates from Only Cells.

13 Jul 20261 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM260713

This week’s case features a 27 year old male patient whose routine monitoring sample arrived in the laboratory in the early hours of the morning. The sheer volume of white blood c...

#morphology-monday#only-cells
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6 Jul 20266 min read

Shift-Proof Your Bench Work: Meet the New Only Cells Laboratory Toolkit

Whether you are working a high stakes emergency night shift or managing routine morning samples, laboratory work demands flawless precision under pressure. Calculations take time,...

#cell-counter#differential-counter#haemocytometer#only-cells#timer#toolkit#zone-of-inhibition-interpreter
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15 Jun 20261 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM260615

This week’s case comes from a fascinating share by a colleague, reminding us all why we should never ignore an automated analyser flag The 52 year old patient presented to the e...

#morphology-monday#only-cells
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12 Jun 20262 min read

MM260608: Iron deficiency anaemia

Thank you to everyone who commented on last week’s microcytic mystery The combination of progressive fatigue, a high RDW, and the classic craving for ice (pica) pointed directly...

#ida#iron-deficiency-anaemia#morphology-monday#only-cells
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8 Jun 20261 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM260608

This week, we are looking at a sample from a 34-year-old female who presented to her GP after experiencing months of progressive fatigue that she initially chalked up to a busy wo...

#morphology-monday#only-cells
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5 Jun 20261 min read

MM260524: McLeod Syndrome

Our 72-year-old patient was referred from a neuromuscular clinic presenting with severe microcytic, hypochromic anaemia (Hb: 77g/L, MCV 56fL, MCH 16.0pg). While these indices freq...

#acanthocytes#mcleod-syndrome#morphology-monday#only-cells#red-cells
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25 May 20261 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM260524

This week’s case features a 72-year-old female patient whose routine FBC triggered an automatic manual film review due to some highly unusual red cell indices. The patient's sampl...

#morphology-monday#only-cells#red-cells
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15 May 20261 min read

MM260511: Adult T-cell Leukaemia/Lymphoma (ATLL)

Thank you to everyone who commented on this week's botanical-themed mystery. While Valentine's Day may be over, these "flowers" under the microscope provided a textbook look at a...

#atll#leukaemia#lymphoma#morphology-monday#only-cells#white-cells
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11 May 20261 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM260511

Valentine’s Day might be behind us, but today's case is in full bloom this morning. This film is covered in "flowers," though these aren't the kind you’d want to receive in a bouq...

#flowers#morphology-monday#only-cells#white-cells
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8 May 20261 min read

MM260504: Cold agglutinins

Thank you for playing along with this week’s "grammar lesson" Most of you correctly identified the missing verb: Warmed. When the sample arrived in the lab, it had a "sandy"...

#cold-agglutinins#morphology-monday#only-cells#red-cells
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4 May 20261 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM260504

Last week, I was helping my niece with her English homework. We were working on an exercise where you have to complete the sentence with the missing verb. It inspired me to try a...

#morphology-monday#only-cells
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17 Apr 20262 min read

MM260413: B-ALL

Thank you to everyone who participated in this challenging case. While the "cup-like" nuclear features sparked an excellent debate regarding myeloid versus lymphoid lineages, the...

#all#morphology-monday#only-cells#white-cells
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13 Apr 20261 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM260413

This week’s case is a particularly poignant one. While working on Christmas day many years ago, I came across the results of a patient who had just celebrated their 18th birthday,...

#morphology-monday#only-cells#white-cells
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27 Mar 20261 min read

MM260323: Babesia

This week's case was from a hitch hiker who had recently returned from Nantucket, Massachusetts with high fevers and jaundice. They presented to the Emergency Department with a fi...

#babesiosis#morphology-monday#only-cells#parasites#red-cells
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23 Mar 20261 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM260323

This week’s case involves a 58-year-old patient who presented to the Emergency Department with a five-day history of worsening "flu-like" symptoms, including high fevers, drenchin...

#babesiosis#morphology-monday#only-cells#parasite
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6 Mar 20262 min read

MM260302: Loa Loa

Thank you to everyone who weighed in on this week’s tropical haematology mystery. This case highlights how a patient's travel history is an important important diagnostic tool in...

#laboratory-diagnostics#loa-loa#microfiliaria#morphology-monday#only-cells
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2 Mar 20261 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM260302

This week's case involves a 34 year old aid worker, who recently returned to the UK after spending two years in West Africa, with significant time spent in the rainforest regions....

#laboratory-diagnostics#microfiliaria#morphology-monday#only-cells
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20 Feb 20262 min read

MM260216: Southeast Asian Ovalocytosis

Our patient presented with a normal haemoglobin level but triggered multiple analyser flags, including spurious macrocytosis and fragment flags. These alerts occurred because the...

#malaria#morphology-monday#only-cells#ovalocytes#red-cells#southeast-asian-ovalocytosis
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16 Feb 20261 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM260216

This week's case comes from a patient of Southeast Asian descent who was recently admitted for a routine surgical workup. Interestingly, despite having no significant symptoms of...

#morphology-monday#only-cells#red-cells
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6 Feb 20263 min read

MM260202: "Crystals of death"

Thank you to everyone who participated in this week’s sobering case. The green inclusions noted in the neutrophils of our ICU patient are a rare and clinically critical finding....

#critical-green-inclusions#crystals-of-death#laboratory-diagnostics#liver-failure#morphology-monday#only-cells#red-cells#white-cells
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2 Feb 20261 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM260202

This week’s case features a patient currently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) suffering from acute liver failure. The laboratory data and the resulting blood film provide a sober...

#morphology-monday#neutrophils#only-cells#red-cells#white-cells
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30 Jan 20262 min read

MM260126: CML

(https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/260126_WDF-plot.png) (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/260126__1-1024x768.jpg) (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploa...

#chronic-myeloid-leukaemia#cml#morphology-monday#only-cells#white-cells
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26 Jan 20261 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM260126

This week's case began with an urgent call from the haematology Specialist Registrar (SpR) before the sample had even reached the laboratory. A patient had been referred from anot...

#g6pd#morphology-monday#only-cells#white-cells
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23 Jan 20262 min read

MM260119: HDFN

Thank you to everyone who analysed the images for our NICU mystery. Before we reveal the diagnosis, let's look at the "evidence list" that led us there. (https://onlycells.co....

#hdfn#morphology-monday#only-cells#red-cells
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19 Jan 20261 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM260119

This week’s case comes from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. A newborn has presented with early-onset jaundice and a rapidly falling haemoglobin level. We’ve been asked to review...

#morphology-monday#only-cells#red-cells
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16 Jan 20262 min read

MM260112: Post splenectomy changes

Thank you to everyone who weighed in on this week’s case It was a fantastic example of how a single blood film can tell a complex story of genetics, clinical intervention, and su...

#beta-thalassaemia#hbe#morphology-monday#only-cells#red-cells#splenectomy#thalassaemia
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12 Jan 20261 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM260112

For today's case, we are going to do something different. I will start by telling you the diagnosis: The blood film images are from a transfusion dependent patient who is a compo...

#morphology-monday#only-cells#red-cells
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9 Jan 20262 min read

MM260105: Prolymphocytes in CLL

Thank you to everyone who participated in the first case of the year While the overnight manual differential flagged a high percentage of "blasts," a closer look and a follow-up...

#cll#morphology-monday#only-cells#prolymphocytes#white-cells
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5 Jan 20262 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM260105

Happy New Year, everyone We are kicking off the first Morphology Monday of the year with a case that highlights the importance of "eyes-on" microscopy versus automated flagging....

#laboratory-diagnostics#morphology-monday#white-cells
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5 Dec 20252 min read

MM251201: Stomatocytes

This week’s Morphology Monday featured a 46-year-old male who presented with fatigue, mild shortness of breath, and light-headedness. His Full Blood Count showed the following: F...

#morphology-monday#only-cells#red-cells#stomatocytes
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1 Dec 20251 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM251201

It's not often the first day of the month aligns with a Monday and you know what that means It's time for a new case. This week's case comes from a 46 year old male who presente...

#morphology-monday#only-cells#red-cells
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21 Nov 20252 min read

MM251117: Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)

This week’s case featured an 84-year-old male referred after routine blood tests showed an extremely elevated white cell count. He reported increasing fatigue but no other signifi...

#cll#morphology-monday#only-cells#white-cells
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19 Nov 20254 min read

Stop the Photocopy Panic: Introducing the Only Cells Blood Component Barcode Generator!

If you’re a Transfusion Trainer or LIMS specialist, you’ll recognise the problem immediately. The constant struggle of preparing realistic, compliant blood component units for ess...

#blood-components#blood-transfusion#lims#only-cells#training
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17 Nov 20251 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM251117

This week’s case comes from an 84-year-old male who was referred to the haematology team after routine blood tests showed a markedly raised white cell count. Clinically, he report...

#morphology-monday#only-cells#white-cells
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16 Nov 20252 min read

Only Cells Blood component Barcode Generator

This free, interactive tool allows clinical application specialists, laboratory scientists, and trainees to instantly simulate ISBT-128 compliant blood component labels across mul...

#blood-components#blood-transfusion#nhsbt#training
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14 Nov 20251 min read

MM251110: May-Hegglin anomaly

This week’s case was a 28-year-old female referred to haematology following incidental findings of thrombocytopenia on a routine full blood count. She reported occasional easy bru...

#may-hegglin-anomaly#mha#morphology-monday#only-cells#platelets#white-cells
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10 Nov 20251 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM251110

A 28-year-old female was referred to haematology after routine pre-operative blood tests revealed abnormalities on the full blood count. She reports occasional easy bruising but n...

#morphology-monday#platelets#white-cells
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7 Nov 20252 min read

MM251103: Chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia

This week’s case featured a 61-year-old patient who presented with persistent fatigue and was found to have abnormal haematology results during routine testing. Further review in...

#chronic-myelomonocytic-leukaemia#cmml#leukaemia#morphology-monday#only-cells#white-cells
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3 Nov 20252 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM251103

This week we have a case from a 61-year-old patient who presented with persistent fatigue and unintentional weight loss. Routine bloods were performed, and the full blood count ha...

#morphology-monday#only-cells#white-cells
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31 Oct 20251 min read

MM251027: Acute myeloid leukaemia

This week’s Morphology Monday case featured a 59-year-old male who presented to the Emergency Department with increasing fatigue, shortness of breath, and spontaneous bruising. L...

#aml#auer-rods#morphology-monday#only-cells#white-cells
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27 Oct 20251 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM251027

This week’s case comes from a 59-year-old male who presented to the Emergency Department with fatigue, shortness of breath, and spontaneous bruising that had developed over severa...

#morphology-monday#only-cells#white-cells
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24 Oct 20251 min read

MM251020: P. malariae

Earlier in the week a couple of blood film images were shared as part of this week's Morphology Monday case. On closer inspection the blood film revealed both trophozoites and sch...

#malaria#malariae#morphology-monday#only-cells#parasite#red-cells
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20 Oct 20251 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM251020

This week's case take us on a journey beyond haematology and into the realm of infectious disease, where the blood film tells a story that's both ancient and fascinating. A middl...

#morphology-monday#only-cells#red-cells
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17 Oct 20252 min read

MM251013: Acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APML)

This week's case was from a 57 year old with some abnormal results: - Hb: 80 g/L - Platelets: 26×10⁹/L - WBC: 35.42 ×10⁹/L The blood film images showed: (https://onlycells...

#acute-promyelocytic-leukaemia#apml#morphology-monday#only-cells#white-cells
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13 Oct 20251 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM251013

This week's Morphology Monday case is from a 57 year old who presented to the emergency department. FBC Results: - WBC: 35.42×10⁹/L - HB: 80g/L - PLT: 26×10⁹/L A blood fi...

#morphology-monday#only-cells#white-cells
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10 Oct 20251 min read

MM251006: Lymphoproliferative disorder (?PLL)

This week’s case involved a 62-year-old female whose full blood count showed a marked lymphocytosis (WBC 34 × 10⁹/L, lymphocytes 90%). The analyser failed to provide a differentia...

#lymphocytes#morphology-monday#only-cells#prolymphocytic-leukaemia#white-cells
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6 Oct 20251 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM251006

This week’s case comes from a 62-year-old female whose sample was flagged by the analyser, but interestingly, no differential count was produced. The WBC scattergram showed an abn...

#morphology-monday#only-cells#white-cells
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3 Oct 20252 min read

MM250915: Renal impairment / IDA

This week’s Morphology Monday case presented with a complex picture involving anaemia, thrombocytosis, and raised white cell count. The striking red cell morphology prompted a wid...

#burr-cells#ida#liver-disease#morphology-monday#only-cells#red-cells#renal-impairment
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29 Sept 20251 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM250929

This week’s case comes from a patient with a complex clinical background. The patient presented with anaemia and a raised platelet count, alongside signs of systemic illness. Bloo...

#morphology-monday#only-cells
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19 Sept 20251 min read

MM250915: Haemoglobin H disease

This week’s Morphology Monday featured a 35-year-old patient presenting with anaemia, fatigue, and mild splenomegaly. The FBC showed: - Hb: 102 g/L - MCV: 59 fL - MCH: 18 pg -...

#alpha-thalassaemia#hbh#morphology-monday#only-cells#red-cells
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15 Sept 20251 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM250915

This week’s case comes from a 35-year-old patient who presented with: - Fatigue and mild shortness of breath - A history of intermittent anaemia - Mild splenomegaly on examinat...

#morphology-monday#only-cells#red-cells
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12 Sept 20251 min read

MM250908: P. ovale

This week’s case featured a 29-year-old male who presented with fever, chills, sweats, headache, and malaise after returning from recent travel abroad. On examination, he was foun...

#malaria#morphology-monday#only-cells#p-ovale
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10 Sept 20251 min read

ABID – The weird and the wonderful webinar [3/3]

We're back with the final part (3) of our Antibody Identification (ABID) webinar series: _The weird and the wonderful._ Following on from the foundations laid in Session 1: Tool...

#abid#cpd#laboratory-diagnostics#only-cells#transfusion-science#webinar
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8 Sept 20251 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM250908

This week’s case comes from a 29-year-old male who returned from a recent trip abroad. He presented to the emergency department with fever, chills, sweats, headache, and general m...

#morphology-monday#only-cells#red-cells
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5 Sept 20251 min read

MM250901: Hereditary Pyropoikilocytosis (HPP)

This week’s case featured a 6-year-old with chronic anaemia, intermittent jaundice, and splenomegaly. The laboratory results showed: - Hb: 78 g/L - MCV: markedly reduced at 55 f...

#hereditary-pyropoikilocytosis#hpp#morphology-monday#only-cells#red-cells
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1 Sept 20251 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM250901

This week's Morphology Monday comes from a 6 year old child who has been experiencing chronic anaemia with intermittent jaundice. The child’s parents reported episodes of fatigue,...

#morphology-monday#only-cells#red-cells
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22 Aug 20251 min read

MM250818: Haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS)

This week's Morphology Monday case(http://onlycells.co.uk/mm250818) features a 35 year old male who presented with fatigue, pallor, easy bruising, reduced urine output, and abdo...

#hus#maha#morphology-monday#only-cells#red-cells
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18 Aug 20251 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM250818

This week's Morphology Monday case comes from a 35 year old male who presented with: - Fatigue and pallor - Easy bruising - Reduced urine output - Mild abdominal pain followin...

#morphology-monday#only-cells#red-cells
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13 Aug 20251 min read

Webinar Announcement: Antibody Identification – Session 3/3

The weird and the wonderful Date: 9th Sept 2025 Time: 12:30 PM (UK Time) Speaker: Helen Thom, RCI Development Lead – Transfusion 2024, NHSBT Platform: M...

#abid#laboratory-diagnostics#only-cells#webinar
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8 Aug 20251 min read

MM250804: Multiple myeloma

(https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/0006-2-1024x768.jpg) This week’s case explored a blood film from a patient with known multiple myeloma, now presenting with progressi...

#morphology-monday#multiple-myeloma#plasma-cells#white-cells
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6 Aug 20252 min read

ABID – Putting it into practice webinar [2/3]

We're back with Part 2 of our Antibody Identification (ABID) webinar series: P_utting It Into Practice._ Following on from the foundations laid in Session 1: Tools of the Trade...

#abid#only-cells#transfusion-science#webinar
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4 Aug 20251 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM250804

We're back with another Morphology Monday case This week's case comes from a 69 year old male presenting with a increasing fatigue and back back over the past several months. He...

#morphology-monday#only-cells#white-cells
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1 Aug 20251 min read

MM250728: Sickle cell disease

(https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/20221222_090718521_iOS-1-1024x768.jpg) This week’s Morphology Monday case features a patient with known Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) who...

#morphology-monday#only-cells#red-cells#scd
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29 Jul 20251 min read

Webinar Announcement: Antibody Identification – Session 2/3

(https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/ABID2_thumbnail.jpg) Registration is now open for Session 2 of the Antibody Identification (ABID) Webinar Series: Putting it into pra...

#abid#antibody-identification#only-cells#transfusion-science#webinar
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28 Jul 20251 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM250728

(https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/20221222_090718521_iOS-scaled.jpg) This week’s Morphology Monday case comes from a 26-year-old individual with a known history of ana...

#morphology-monday#only-cells#red-cells
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25 Jul 20251 min read

MM250721: Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)

(https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/04-5-1024x543.jpg) (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/04-6-1024x543.jpg) (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/01-4...

#all#blood-cancer#leukaemia#morphology-monday
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21 Jul 20251 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM250721

(https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/01-3-scaled.jpg) This week’s case features a 14-year-old male who had just celebrated his birthday when he presented to hospital with...

#morphology-monday#only-cells#white-cells
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17 Jul 20251 min read

MM250714: Thalassaemia

(https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/29U013697-Thalassaemia_0006-3-1024x768.png) This week’s Morphology Monday case featured a 60-year-old female whose full blood count p...

#morphology-monday#only-cells#red-cells#thalassaemia
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15 Jul 20252 min read

ABID - Tools of the trade webinar [1/3]

(https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/ABID1_thumbnail.jpg) We’re thrilled to have kicked off our three-part webinar series on Antibody Identification (ABID). In _Ses...

#abid#antibody-identification#only-cells#webinar
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14 Jul 20251 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM250714

(https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/29U013697-Thalassaemia_0001.png) This week’s Morphology Monday features a 60-year-old female with a history of chronic anaemia and pe...

#morphology-monday#red-cells
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11 Jul 20252 min read

MM250707: Splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL)

<figure> (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/20221023_200030629_iOS-1024x768.jpg) <figcaption> Peripheral blood film from a patient with SMZL showing lymphocytes with...

#lymphoma#morphology-monday#smzl#white-cells
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7 Jul 20251 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM250707

<figure> (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/20221023_200214286_iOS-scaled.jpg) <figcaption> Peripheral blood film </figcaption> </figure> This week’s Morphology Mo...

#morphology-monday#white-cells
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3 Jul 20251 min read

MM250630: Megaloblastic Anaemia

(https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/29U833443-Megaloblastic-Anaemia_0002-3.png) This week’s case presented with a striking macrocytic anaemia on full blood count: - H...

#megaloblastic-anaemia#morphology-monday#red-cells
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30 Jun 20251 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM250630

(https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/29U833443-Megaloblastic-Anaemia_0002-1.png) This week's Morphology Monday case is from a patient who went to their GP and presented w...

#morphology-monday
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27 Jun 20251 min read

MM250623: Acute Myeloid Leukaemia

(https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/04-4-1024x812.jpg) (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/05-1-1024x820.jpg) (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/03-1...

#aml#morphology-monday#white-cells
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23 Jun 20251 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM250623

This week’s Morphology Monday case centres on a patient who presented with a gastrointestinal (GI) bleed and was started on tranexamic acid (TXA) as part of their management. Dur...

#morphology-monday#white-cells
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20 Jun 20252 min read

MM250616: May Hegglin Anomaly

This week’s case focused on an adult male with a platelet count in the 54×0⁹/L, identified during routine testing. The patient was asymptomatic, with no significant bleeding histo...

#may-hegglin-anomaly#morphology-monday#myh9
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18 Jun 20252 min read

Webinar Announcement: Antibody Identification – Session 1/3

Tools of the Trade Date: 15th July 2025 Time: 12:00 PM (UK Time) Speaker: Helen Thom, RCI Development Lead – Transfusion 2024, NHSBT Platform: Microsoft...

#only-cells#webinar
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16 Jun 20251 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM250616

(https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/20221204_122145146_iOS-2-1024x768.jpg) (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/20221204_122052139_iOS-1-1024x768.jpg) (https...

#laboratory-diagnostics#morphology-monday#platelets
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12 Jun 20251 min read

MM250609: Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)

<figure> (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/20250609-CML_02-1-1024x768.jpg) <figcaption> Peripheral blood film </figcaption> </figure> This week's Morphology Monda...

#cml#leukaemia#morphology-monday
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9 Jun 20251 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM250609

<figure> 81 year old presents with increased white cell count, (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/20250609-CML_03-scaled.jpg) <figcaption> Peripheral blood film from...

#morphology-monday
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5 Jun 20252 min read

MM250602: Platelet Satellitism

\caption id="attachment_4063" align="aligncenter" width="682"\(https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/platelet-satellitism_01-300x225.jpg) Blood film showing platelets cl...

#morphology-monday#platelets#pseudothrombocytopaenia#satellitism
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2 Jun 20251 min read

Morphology Monday | Case MM250602

<figure> (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/platelet-satellitism_01.jpg) <figcaption> Peripheral blood film image from a 30-something year old female. </figcaption>...

#morphology-monday
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31 May 20251 min read

Is morphology dead? Why blood films still matter in the age of automation

(https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/Is-morphology-dead-1024x467.jpg) With the rise of automated analysers and digital diagnostics, some may question whether traditional...

#automation#laboratory-diagnostics#morphology
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29 May 20252 min read

Infectious mononucleosis: when lymphocytes take centre stage

<figure> (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/004-scaled.jpg) <figcaption> Peripheral blood film image showing atypical lymphocytes </figcaption> </figure> In our re...

#atypical-lymphocytes#glandular-fever#im#infectious-mononucleosis#morphology-monday
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27 May 20251 min read

Morphology Monday: Six diagnostic challenges from the blood film

Dive into this special Morphology Monday feature published in The Biomedical Scientist(https://thebiomedicalscientist.net/2025/04/29/morphology-monday-help-what-it) (May 2025),...

#biomedical-scientist#magazine#morphology-monday
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22 May 20251 min read

Not what it seems - a challenging case of malaria

<figure> (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/20250511_P-falciparum.jpg) <figcaption> Peripheral blood film showing a band-like trophozoite with Murer's clefts </figca...

#malaria#morphology-monday
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11 May 20251 min read

Red Cells: Howell-Jolly bodies

<figure> (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/27U025877_HJB_SCD_Target-cells_0003.png) <figcaption> Peripheral blood film image from a patient with SCD showing Howell-H...

#hjb#only-cells#red-cells
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25 Apr 20252 min read

The unseen enemy: Why today matters in the fight against malaria

(https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/World-Malaria-Day.jpg) Today, April 25th, marks World Malaria Day, a global reminder that despite decades of progress, malaria remain...

#malaria#wmd#world-malaria-day
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14 Apr 20251 min read

Cryoglobulins: A cold case in the blood

<figure> (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/Cryoglobulins-scaled.jpg) <figcaption> Peripheral blood film showing cryoglobulins. </figcaption> </figure> Cryoglobuli...

#cryoglobulins
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14 Apr 20251 min read

Haemoglobinopathies - The small details that make a big difference Webinar

(https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/Haemoglobinopathies_thumbnail.jpg) On the 9th April 2025, Only Cells hosted another successful Webinar titled _"Haemoglobinopathies -...

#haemoglobin#haemoglobinopathies#laboratory-diagnostics#webinar
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23 Mar 20251 min read

Leukaemic dawn (short poem)

<figure> (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/AML-sitcky-blasts-3.jpg) <figcaption> Peripheral blood film from a patient with AML showing multiple blast cells. </figca...

#haiku#only-cells#poem
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14 Mar 20251 min read

Healthcare Scientists: Advocates for excellence

(https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/7415_Biomedical-scientist-looking-at-blood-film-on-microscope-scaled.jpg) Healthcare Science Week has me reflecting on my days as a B...

#biomedical-scientists#healthcare-science-week
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3 Mar 20252 min read

Wavy wonders: Borrelia's appearance under the microscope

<figure> (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/Borrelia-2.jpg) <figcaption> Peripheral blood film showing Borrelia in its distinct spiral form. </figcaption> </figure>...

#bacteria#borrelia#only-cells
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3 Mar 20251 min read

Sickled crescents (short poem)

<figure> (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/Sickle-cells-1-scaled.jpg) <figcaption> Peripheral blood film showing sickled cells </figcaption> </figure> Red cells t...

#poem#red-cells#sickle-cell
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24 Feb 20253 min read

Increased adhesion of blast cells in acute myeloid leukaemia

<figure> <figure> (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/AML-sitcky-blasts-1.jpg) <figcaption> Peripheral blood film showing blast cells clumping together. </figcaption...

#adhesion#aml#blast-cells
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14 Feb 20251 min read

Stained with Love

(https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/Heart-purple.jpg) In labs where life's frail secrets hide, And answers wait, deep inside, I sought a truth, a hidden clue, And...

#lab#poem#valentines
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9 Feb 20258 min read

Winners and Losers

<figure> An underfilled citrate sample.(https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/IMG_20200409_153443__01.jpg) <figcaption> An underfilled citrate sample. </figcaption> </f...

#a-day-in-the-life-of-a-biomedical-scientist
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2 Feb 20251 min read

TTP Diagnostics Webinar

(https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/001-TTP-Diagnostics.jpg) On January 7th, 2025, we hosted an online webinar titled _"TTP Diagnostics - Preventing a Fragmented Approac...

#laboratory-diagnostics#only-cells#ttp#webinar
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23 Jan 20242 min read

Haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS)

<figure> (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/1.jpg) <figcaption> Peripheral blood film from a patient with HUS. </figcaption> </figure> Haemolytic uraemia syndrome...

#maha#only-cells#red-cells
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22 Jan 20241 min read

Red cells: Drepanocytes

<figure> (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/Sickle-cells-scaled.jpg) <figcaption> Peripheral blood film showing the presence of drepanocytes (centre). </figcaption>...

#only-cells#red-cells
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28 Jun 20237 min read

Candour

(https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/2023/06/IMG_20180420_132559_Bokeh-scaled.jpg) The MLA came rushing in. I was in the middle of looking at a blood film for a patient w...

#a-day-in-the-life-of-a-biomedical-scientist
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6 Jun 20238 min read

10 minutes

The emergency phone in blood transfusion shrieked. It's a loud, piercing sound that made your heart race, no matter whether you were napping in a spare few minutes on a night shif...

#a-day-in-the-life-of-a-biomedical-scientist
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2 Jun 20231 min read

Red cells: Acanthocytes

<figure> (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/2024/01/01-1024x563.jpg) <figcaption> Acanthocyte (centre) in a patient with neuroacanthocytosis. </figcaption> </figure...

#only-cells#red-cells
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7 Apr 20232 min read

Red cells: Hypochromia

<figure> (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/2024/01/B-Thal_Dimorphic_0001-1024x768.jpg) <figcaption> Hypochromic red cells in a patient with beta thalassaemia. </fig...

#only-cells#red-cells
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3 Apr 20232 min read

Red cells: Blister (hemighost) cells

<figure> (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/2024/01/0001-1024x768.jpg) <figcaption> Blister cells (above from centre) seen in a patient with G6PD deficiency. </figca...

#only-cells#red-cells
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29 Mar 20231 min read

Red Cells: Dimorphism

<figure> A blood film image from a patient with Beta thalasseamia, showing dimorphic red cells(https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/2024/01/B-Thal_Dimorphic_0001-1024x768....

#only-cells#red-cells
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25 Mar 20231 min read

Red cells: Basophilic stippling

<figure> (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/29U182166-Basophilic-Stippling_0005-1024x768.png) <figcaption> Blood film showing basophilic stippling (2 cells at centre...

#only-cells#red-cells
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19 Mar 20231 min read

Red Cells: Dacrocytes

<figure> (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/2024/01/20210227_083246794_iOS-1024x576.jpg) <figcaption> Peripheral blood film from a patient with myelofibrosis, showing...

#only-cells#red-cells
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11 Mar 20232 min read

Red cells: Spherocytes

<figure> (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/2024/01/HS-1-1024x612.jpg) <figcaption> Peripheral blood film image from a patient with hereditary spherocytosis. </figca...

#only-cells#red-cells
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25 Feb 20231 min read

Red cells: Elliptocytes

<figure> (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/2024/01/16U223928-HE-FBC_0002-1024x768.jpg) <figcaption> Peripheral blood film image from a patient with hereditary ellipt...

#only-cells#red-cells
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6 Feb 20231 min read

Plasma cell leukaemia

<figure> Plasma cell(https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/2023/02/Plasma-cells-1024x683.jpg) <figcaption> Plasma cell in a patient with plasma cell leukaemia. </figcapt...

#multiple-myeloma#only-cells#plasma-cell-leukaemia
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9 Jan 20231 min read

Hypergranular APML

(https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/0010-scaled.jpg) This patient's blood film shows many hypergranulated promyelocytes (above and below) along with distinctive bilobed...

#acute-promyelocytic-leukaemia#apml#only-cells#white-cells
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22 Dec 20221 min read

Red cells: Target cells

<figure> (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/20220701_115139883_iOS-scaled.jpg) <figcaption> Target cells in a patient with thalassaemia </figcaption> </figure> C...

#only-cells#red-cells
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21 Dec 20221 min read

P. falciparum

<figure> (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/20210415_101001146_iOS-scaled.jpg) <figcaption> Blood film showing a Plasmodium Falciparum infection </figcaption> </fig...

#malaria#only-cells#plasmodium-falciparum#red-cells
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12 Dec 20222 min read

Smear cells

<figure> (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/20220522_205607809_iOS-scaled.jpg) <figcaption> Smear cells in a patient with AML. </figcaption> </figure> Smear cells...

#acute-myeloid-leukaemia#chronic-lymphocytic-leukaemia#only-cells#smear-cells#smudge-cells#white-cells
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5 Dec 20221 min read

May–Hegglin anomaly

<figure> (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/20221204_122145146_iOS-scaled.jpg) <figcaption> Image showing Dohle body like inclusions within the neutrophils and macrot...

#may-hegglin-anomaly#mhy9#only-cells#platelets
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28 Nov 20221 min read

Microgranular APML

<figure> Image of peripheral blood showing bilobed cells seen in APML.(https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/2022/11/01-1024x768.jpg) </figure> This image is from a patie...

#acute-promyelocytic-leukaemia#apml#only-cells
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14 Nov 20221 min read

Red cells: Polychromasia

<figure> (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/2022/11/20210919_204654409_iOS-1024x768.jpg) <figcaption> Blood film from a patient with a haemolytic anaemia, showing the...

#only-cells#red-cells
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4 Nov 20221 min read

Red cells: Anisopoikilocytosis

<figure> (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/2022/11/IMG_20200906_190705-1024x467.jpg) <figcaption> Blood film from a patient with HbH disease </figcaption> </figure...

#only-cells#red-cells
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3 Oct 20221 min read

Bilobed neutrophils

(https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/2022/10/PXL_20201114_142605601.MP2_-1024x590.jpg) The image shows two neutrophils with a reduced number of nuclear lobes that are usu...

#neutrophils#only-cells#pelger-huet
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26 Sept 20221 min read

Fibrin strands

(https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/2022/10/20210321_000914743_iOS-1-1024x576.jpg) (https://onlycells.co.uk/posts/wp-uploads/2022/10/20210321_000947738_iOS-1024x576.j...

#fibrin-strands#only-cells
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