Hematology
The lab dept concerned with identifying disease related to the blood; CBC, UA, ESRs, coag studies, fluid cell counts
CBC
Complete blood count; RBCs and indices, WBC w/ or w/o diff, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelets
RBC membrane
Elastic, lipid bilayer, cytoskeleton, membrane proteins
Hemoglobin structure
Iron, protoporphyrin, globin
Hemoglobin function
Carry oxygen (bind it and release it)
MCV
Mean corpuscular volume; estimates average size of red cell; classified as microcytic, normocytic, or macrocytic
MCH
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin; How much hemoglobin is inside the RBC; used in combo w/ MCHC; classified as hypochromic or normochromic
MCHC
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration; used in conjunction with MCH to determine amount of hemoglobin; classified as hypochromic or normochromic
RDW
RBC distribution width; amt of size variation;used to quantify the amount of anisocytosis; graded by severity 1+, 2+, 3+
Normchromia
RBC should lack a nucleus; should be consistent in size and shape; should be deformable and selectively permeable
What are possible causes to have an increased number of macrocytes (MCV > 100fL) in the blood?
What are some possible causes/pathology of too many microcytes (MCV < 80 fL) and/or hypochromic (MCHC < 33%) in the blood?
Abnormal hemoglobin synthesis
*iron deficiency
*deficiency of heme synthesis (siderblastic anemia)
*deficiency of globin synthesis (thalassemia)
Chronic disease states
Piokilocytosis
Variation in shape
Presentation of target cells could be indicative of what?
Presentation of spherocytes in the blood could be indicative of what?
Presentation of Stomatocytes in the blood could be indicative of what?
Cirrhosis
What are the 6 types of WBCs?
Which WBC usually comprises 40-75% of the WBCs in normal blood?
Neutrophils
Which WBC usually comprises 30-40% of the WBCs in normal blood?
Lymphocytes
Which WBC usually comprises 2-8% of the WBCs in normal blood?
Monocytes
Which WBC usually comprises 1-4% of the WBCs in normal blood?
Eosinophils
Which WBC usually comprises 0.5-1% of the WBCs in normal blood?
Basophils
Which WBC usually comprises 0-3% of the WBCs in normal blood?
Band cells (young neutrophils)
What is the function of neutrophils?
Phagocytosis and killing of microorganisms