CAMLPR Hematology Practice Test

A CBC shows HbC predominance on electrophoresis with rectangular crystals on smear. What is the presumptive diagnosis?

Sickle cell disease Sickle cell trait Hemoglobin C Iron deficiency anemia

Correct Answer:

Hemoglobin C

Explanation:

The main idea is that HbC crystals in red cells are highly characteristic of hemoglobin C. When electrophoresis shows HbC as the predominant hemoglobin, it points to homozygous hemoglobin C disease rather than other conditions. In HbC disease, most of the hemoglobin is HbC with little or no HbA present, whereas in HbC trait you’d expect a mix of HbA and HbC rather than HbC dominance. Sickle cell disease or trait would show hemoglobin S on electrophoresis, not HbC, and iron deficiency anemia does not produce HbC crystals or HbC dominance. So the pattern described—the HbC predominance on electrophoresis plus rectangular HbC crystals on smear—fits hemoglobin C disease.

Access more questions from this quiz

Continue to CAMLPR Hematology Practice Test for more practice questions and the full quiz experience.

Access More Questions