Burr Cells (Echinocytes)
Blood & blood cell markersWhat the test generally measures, and what to ask about it.
Longetic keeps every lab and record you’ve had organized and easy to find, so your own Burr Cells (Echinocytes) values sit together on one chart and you walk into your next appointment prepared.
What is Burr Cells (Echinocytes)?
Red blood cells with small even bumps around the edge that a lab may see on a blood smear.
Burr cells, also called echinocytes, are red blood cells whose surface shows regular short projections when viewed under the microscope. They are a finding a lab sees on a blood smear rather than a number you can track over time. Their presence can be associated with certain kidney or metabolic conditions, and sometimes they appear simply from how the sample was handled. A lab notes them when reviewing the shape of red blood cells.
This glossary entry is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Read our Terms of Use.
References
About our sources
Official sources
Government health agencies, national institutes, and intergovernmental bodies whose guidelines carry regulatory or policy weight.
Clinical / professional
Medical societies, specialty colleges, and professional associations whose consensus statements reflect clinical practice standards.
Peer-reviewed research
Original research articles and systematic reviews published in indexed journals and verified through PubMed or DOI.