An erythrocyte with a dark rounded central area surrounded by a lightly stained clear ring, which in turn is surrounded by a dense ring of peripheral cytoplasm.
It is present in certain blood disorders, such as thalassemia, and in patients who have no spleen.

Figure: TARGET CELLS
In hemoglobin C disease (×600)



See: hemoglobin C disease
SYN: codocyte; ; leptocyte

Main entry:
cell