Target cells

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Target cells

#00063565

Author: Swetha Prabu; Girish Venkataraman
Category: Laboratory Hematology > Basic cell morphology > Red Blood Cell shape abnormalities > Target cells
Published Date: 06/11/2021

Target cells [showed by black arrows] are poikilocyte also called as codocytes ["codo"- bell - shaped as seen in electron microscopy].
It is characterised by redistribution of hemoglobin in the periphery and in the centre of the cell separated by a pale region.
Redistribution is a result of increased surface area to volume ratio of Red Blood Cells.
Target cells is seen in thalassemia, sickle cell disease, liver disease, postsplenectomy, as well as Hemoglobin C disease.