Unit #5B – Clinical Laboratory Testing Basic Hematology

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Unit 5B Clinical Laboratory TestingBasic
Hematology

• Cecile Sanders, M.Ed., MLS(ASCP)

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Unit 5B Clinical Laboratory Testing Basic
Hematology

• Department of Hematology
• Study of formed elements of blood and blood
  forming tissues
• Screen, diagnosis and monitor hematologic
  diseases (anemias, leukemias, etc.) and also give
  a general idea of overall health

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Unit 5B Clinical Laboratory Testing Basic
Hematology

• Composition of Blood - blood is 6-8 of total
  body weight and equals approximately 5 liters
  (think about 5 liter bottles of Coke)
• Serum vs Plasma
• Both are fluid portions of blood
• Serum is from clotted blood, has no clotting
  factors (used up in the clotting process)
• Plasma is from anticoagulated blood, has clotting
  factors, makes up about 45-60 of bloods volume

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Unit 5B Clinical Laboratory Testing Basic
Hematology

• Cellular Elements make up the remainder of the
  blood volume
• Erythrocytes / RBCs
• 4-6 million/µL
• Transport oxygen and carbon dioxide
• Electron Micrograph Stained Blood Smear
  Viewed by Microscope

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Unit 5B Clinical Laboratory Testing Basic
Hematology

• Leukocytes / WBCs
• 4,800-10,800 /µL in circulating blood many
  more in tissues
• Function in immunity and defense against
  bacteria, viruses and all other foreign materials
  (includes allergens like pollen, etc.)
• Illustration of WBC Stained WBC
  Viewed Under
  
  Microscope

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Unit 5B Clinical Laboratory Testing Basic
Hematology

• Types of WBCs
• Granulocytes (neutrophils, basophils,
  eosinophils)
• Drawing Stained Granulocytes Viewed
  Under Microscope

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Unit 5B Clinical Laboratory Testing Basic
Hematology

• Lymphocytes (On blood smear)
• Monocytes (On blood smear)

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Unit 5B Clinical Laboratory Testing Basic
Hematology

• Platelets / Thrombocytes
• Pieces of a bone marrow cell known as a
  megakaryocyte
• Function to stop bleeding by forming a plug and
  also release coagulation factors
• Platelets on blood smear (very small dots among
  RBC)

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Unit 5B Clinical Laboratory Testing Basic
Hematology

• Common Hematology Laboratory Tests
• Complete Blood Count (CBC) includes
• RBC count
• WBC count
• Hemoglobin
• Hematocrit
• WBC Differential
• Platelet count
• Additional information on size and appearance of
  blood cells

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Unit 5B Clinical Laboratory Testing Basic
Hematology

• Common Hematology Laboratory Tests
• Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
• Reticulocyte Count
• Sickle Cell Testing
• Coagulation Tests include
• Prothrombin Time (PT)
• Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT)
• Fibrinogen
• Factor Analysis

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Unit 5B Clinical Laboratory Testing Basic
Hematology

• Hematological Diseases (Diseases may be
  classified in more than one category)
• Diseases of improper or insufficient production
• Anemias Examples include iron deficiency anemia
  and aplastic anemia, among others
• Leukemias WBC production is affected and
  defective. Examples include acute and chronic
  leukemias
• Thrombocytopenia Decreased platelets. Patient
  may have bleeding problems

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Unit 5B Clinical Laboratory Testing Basic
Hematology

• Diseases of defective cell function
• May be combination of improper cell production
  and defective function
• Examples include iron deficiency anemia and
  certain leukemias
• Inherited hematological diseases
• Examples include hemophilia, sickle cell anemia,
  G6PD deficiency, thalassemias
• Secondary or acquired hematological diseases
• Examples include hemolytic disease due to renal
  pathologies or atypical lymphocytes due to viral
  infections