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Lymphocytes: Structure, Function & Clinical Significance

This Medical Laboratory Science lesson in Hematology supports laboratory science learning and laboratory interpretation for medical laboratory students and professionals.

B, T, and NK lymphocyte subsets, smear morphology, absolute lymphocyte count, and interpretation of reactive versus suspicious lymphocytosis patterns.

Intermediate35 min read24 sectionsHematology
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Lesson Objectives

Getting started

Section 1 of 24

Lesson Objectives

Learning Objectives

Section: Learning Objectives

This lesson addresses lymphocyte interpretation on the CBC with differential and peripheral smear, morphology, absolute counts, and pattern framing.

Each objective describes a bench competency for result verification and reportable pattern synthesis.

  • Identify lymphocytes on Wright-Giemsa peripheral smear and distinguish typical small lymphocytes from reactive and atypical forms requiring smear comment
  • Interpret lymphocyte percentage and absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) on automated CBC with differential
  • Correlate lymphocytosis patterns with viral illness, stress response, and concerning morphology requiring hematology correlation
  • Apply institutional reflex smear criteria when lymphocyte-related analyzer flags are present
  • Formulate a reportable leukocyte pattern using hedged language, reactive versus suspicious, without overcalling malignancy from count alone

Section 1 of 24