Final answer:
Echinocytes are red blood cells with a spiked appearance often seen as a blood smear artifact, different from sickle cells seen in sickle cell disease.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term for red blood cells that exhibit "spikes" on their surfaces and is often considered an artifact of the blood smear production process is echinocyte. Echinocytes, also known as burr cells, can appear in blood smears as a result of the preparation technique and are not usually a sign of disease.
In contrast to echinocytes, other erythrocyte morphologies like sickle cell disease represent significant health concerns. Sickle cell disease manifests with erythrocytes that have a characteristic crescent or sickle shape due to an abnormal type of hemoglobin, hemoglobin S, which impairs oxygen delivery and causes these cells to deform, potentially leading to serious complications.