G6PD hemolysis is associated with formation of Heinz bodies in peripheral red blood cells. It is the older erythrocytes which are most G6PD deficient in affected individuals. These cells are first eliminated in a hemolytic crisis. The younger cells and reticulocytes contain more G6PD. For these reasons after a hemolytic crisis, when only younger erythrocytes and reticulocytes are present, the G6PD values may be spuriously normal.