Her father's ancestry was Scotch-Irish. Physical examination entirely within normal limits except for palpable spleen tip on deep inspiration. WBC 6,200 with a normal differential. The blood smear shows small pale RBC, with slight variation in size and shape. There are occasional target cells and rare basophilic stippling.
Platelets appear normal.
Characterize the anemia in terms of cell size. This 16 year old Vietnamese schoolboy was referred because of anemia. He had remained small in stature and puberty was delayed. Parents are asymptomatic. Alert, pale male appearing younger than stated age of 16.