Free-living fungi as artifacts on hematology preparations.

The appearance of Helicosporium sp., a free-living fungus, is reported as a contaminant resembling nematode microfilaria on a Wright's stained blood smear. Also, an unidentified object with structures resembling the septate hyphae of the Fungi Imperfecti and two other forms with some features similar to the fungal genus Fusarium were found on leukocyte alkaline phosphatase preparations of blood smears. The possible incorrect identification of these pseudoparasites is discussed and a review of the pertinent literature included.