All of the following are true characteristics of megaloblastic anemia EXCEPT:

Megaloblastic anemia is characterized by ineffective erythropoiesis and is often associated with vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, leading to several distinct features in the blood.

One key aspect of megaloblastic anemia is the presence of macrocytic erythrocyte indices, where red blood cells are larger than normal due to impaired DNA synthesis. This is a definitive characteristic of the condition and is critical for identifying it.

The presence of hypersegmented neutrophils is another hallmark of megaloblastic anemia. Neutrophil hypersegmentation occurs because of the disrupted maturation of myeloid cells due to elongated cell cycle time, resulting in neutrophils having more than the usual five lobes in their nuclei.

Pancytopenia, which refers to a reduction in red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, can also occur in this type of anemia, particularly when the bone marrow is impacted due to ineffective erythropoiesis and possible suppression of other lineages.

In contrast, an elevated reticulocyte count is not a feature of megaloblastic anemia. Generally, in this condition, the reticulocyte count is low or normal because the bone marrow cannot produce enough healthy red blood