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What might a WBC histogram look like if a patient has eosinophilia?

A) The histogram would show a shift to the right, with an increased number of eosinophils in a separate peak.

B) The histogram would show a shift to the left, with decreased eosinophils.

C) The histogram would remain unchanged.

D) The shape of the histogram can vary widely, and eosinophils may not have a distinct peak.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

In a patient with eosinophilia, the WBC histogram would show a shift to the right, indicating an increased number of eosinophils which would form a separate peak due to their characteristic staining properties and distinct nucleus shape.

Step-by-step explanation:

A) The histogram would show a shift to the right, with an increased number of eosinophils in a separate peak. If a patient has eosinophilia, a condition where there is an increased number of eosinophils in the blood, the typical consequence on a WBC histogram would be option A: The histogram would show a shift to the right, with an increased number of eosinophils in a separate peak. Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that are part of the immune response, particularly in combating parasitic infections and in allergic reactions. Normally they make up 2-4 percent of the total leukocyte count. In a WBC histogram, which plots the number of cells against their size or other properties, an increased number of eosinophils would result in a distinct peak that reflects this higher count. Eosinophils are identified by their characteristic reddish-orange staining granules and typically have a two to three-lobed nucleus.

When stained with eosin, a kind of acidic stain that eosinophils absorb effectively, these cells become more distinctive which helps in their identification on a microscopic level or via automated systems like hematological analyzers that generate WBC histograms.If a patient has eosinophilia, the WBC histogram would show a shift to the right, with an increased number of eosinophils in a separate peak. Eosinophils typically represent 2-4 percent of total leukocyte count and have distinct red to orange-colored granules. A shift to the right in the histogram indicates an increase in the number of eosinophils, which is characteristic of eosinophilia.

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