MedlinePlus Health Information: A service of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health

     

Medical Encyclopedia: Polychromatophilia

URL of this page: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001318.htm

Definition   

Polychromatophilia is an excessive number of abnormal red blood cells, known as polychromatophil cells, in the blood. Polychromatophilia means an attraction to multiple colors. In lab tests, these red blood cells stain with different types of dyes, and look different than normal red cells.

References   

McPherson RA and Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 21st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: W.B. Saunders; 2006:470.

Update Date: 2/26/2007

Updated by: William Matsui, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M. Logo

The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Adam makes no representation or warranty regarding the accuracy, reliability, completeness, currentness, or timeliness of the content, text or graphics. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2008, A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.