Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

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Hey, I've been having a lot of blood tests lately because of this problem I have where my face gets ridiculously red on and off all day for no apparent reason. So far everything has been normal/negative except my lymphocyte count is a little depressed, and I just found yesterday that a blood film (aka peripheral blood smear) showed neutrophils that exhibit 'toxic vacuolation'.

I Googled this and gathered it's either a bloodborne infection or a false positive caused by the sample sitting in EDTA too long.

Anyone here know how abnormal this is and how likely it is to be a false positive? I'm guessing I'd have problems other than a red face if I was septic.

I do have a doctor's appt on Monday to discuss this.

Thanks!

flag	asked Feb 29 2012 at 19:13 Not James 168●3●9

DThoris · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-29 20:52:45Z UTC

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I expect if you had a blood borne infection, you would be seeing other symptoms. I wouldn't worry too much, and would wait for my discussion with my doctor. Trust me, if your doctor was worried, you'd be there today.

answered Feb 29 2012 at 20:52

DThoris
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	Thanks for the reply. He actually never saw the note the hematologist or lab tech put in mentioning the problem. : P I brought it up in my next appointment and he didn't really have any comment, except that it was unusual. We repeated the blood film with no abnormality in my neutrophils found. – Not James Mar 24 2012 at 19:23
	Glad to hear the repeat test was neg. Perhaps the original test was contaminated somehow. – DThoris May 2 2012 at 17:16

Anyone know how abnormal it is for a blood film to show ‘toxic vacuolation of neutrophils’?

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