Hi Tim! I have PV. I used to work as a Medical laboratory scientist in the hospital. Many years ago I worked in hematology. To answer your question, the RBC morphology is a test where the doctor asks for technologists to look at the RBCs under the microscope for shape and size. The results you list show you have mild (1+) changes in the shapes (ovals, tear drops, various) of your RBCs. These changes can have different causes, but for me, those changes have been related to iron deficiency not caused by anemia (probably caused by monthly phlebotomies) because I have too many RBCs. Your RDW (red cell distribution width), a value on your CBC (complete blood count), is an indicator of the variability of the size and shape of your RBCs. Mine is always elevated. When I took iron, it helped, but you don't want to take too much of that because it could increase your RBC production. It is a vicious cycle trying to keep everything in balance. I hope this information helps.

I’ve had those weird —cytes also. Thank you, BarbaraJones, for explaining that so well. I wondered about them, but forget to ask my Oncologist about them. I am iron deficient w/o anemia!

Hi Barbara,
Thank you very much for the reply! I’ve sort of lost my appetite since being diagnosed wit ET last summer. Probably need to improve my diet.