Korean J Clin Microbiol.  2009 Sep;12(3):138-140. 10.5145/KJCM.2009.12.3.138.

Misidentification of Candida parapsilosis as Large Platelets in an Automated Blood Analyzer

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea. nhryoo@dsmc.or.kr
  • 2Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.

Abstract

We experienced a case in which yeasts in blood sample from a patient with cervical cancer with hepatic metastasis and multiple intraperitoneal cysts interfered with platelet morphology flag in automated blood analyzer. The peripheral blood smear was performed to confirm the flag and revealed intracellular and extracellular yeasts, which were subsequently identified as Candida parapsilosis by blood culture.

Keyword

Candida parapsilosis; Peripheral blood smear; Automated blood analyzer; Large platelet

MeSH Terms

Blood Platelets
Candida
Humans
Neoplasm Metastasis
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
Yeasts

Figure

  • Fig. 1. Phagocytized yeasts within neutrophils (Wright stain, ×1,000).

  • Fig. 2. Multiple budding yeast cells observed on peripheral blood smear (Wright stain, ×1,000).


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