What does it mean for a blood smear to show moderate polychromasia and moderate schistocytes? google doesn't give a good picture. :) thanks

See your doctor: See your doctor Polychromasia is the heterogeneous staining of RBCs of different ages, with younger cells appearing blue, that occurs after haemorrhage, haemolysis, dyserythropoiesis and treatment with haematinics such as iron and vitamin B12. Schistocytes are RBCs fragmented by their passage through intravascular strands of fibrin, found in cases of intravascular haemolysis, renal failure and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura amongst others.

Worrisome: Look for something fragmenting the red blood cells. If the person isn't obviously sick with disseminated intravascular coagulation or thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, perhaps they have an old-fashioned mechanical heart valve. Polychromasia should prompt a search for causes of hemolysis. The pathologist may want to review this slide. Best wishes.