Blood Routine Examination
Blood tests are used to determine physiological and biochemical states such as disease, mineral content, drug effectiveness, and organ function.
Cellular evaluation
Full blood count (or "complete blood count") Hematocrit and MCV ("mean corpuscular volume") Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) Cross-matching. Determination of blood type for blood transfusion or transplants Blood cultures are commonly taken if infection is suspected. Positive cultures and resulting sensitivity results are often useful in guiding medical treatment
Complete Blood Count
The complete blood count is the calculation of the cellular (formed elements) of blood
These calculations are generally determined by specially designed machines that analyze the different components of blood in less than a minute
The complete blood count (also called CBC) is generated by testing a simple blood sample.
Components of CBC White blood cell count (WBC)
The number of white blood cells in a volume of blood Normal range varies between 4,300 and 10,800 cells per cubic millimeter (cmm) This can also be referred to as the leukocyte count and can be expressed in international units as 4.3 - 10.8 x 109 cells per liter
Automated white cell differential A machine generated percentage of the different types of white blood cells, usually split into granulocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils
Neutrophil Lymphocytes Monocytes Eosinophil Basophil
27.5x109/L 45-54 — 62-74 % of WBC 1.34x109/L 16-25 ---- 33-45 % of WBC 0.20.8x109/L 3-4 -----7-10 % of WBC 0.040.4x109/L 13-7 % of WBC 0.010.1x109/L 0.00.75-2 % of WBC
Red cell count (RBC)
The number of red blood cells in a volume of blood Normal range varies between 4.2 - 5.9 million cells/cmm This can also be referred to as the erythrocyte count and can be expressed in international units as 4.2 - 5.9 x 1012 cells per liter
Hemoglobin (Hb)
The amount of hemoglobin in a volume of blood Hemoglobin is the protein molecule within red blood cells that carries oxygen and gives blood its red color Normal range for hemoglobin is different between the sexes and is approximately 13 - 18 grams per deciliter for men and 12 - 16 for women (international units 8.1 11.2 millimoles/liter for men, 7.4 - 9.9 for women)
Hematocrit (Hct) The ratio of the volume of red cells to the volume of whole blood Normal range for hematocrit is different between the sexes and is approximately 45 - 52% for men and 37 - 48% for women
Mean cell volume (MCV)
The average volume of a red cell This is a calculated value derived from the hematocrit and red cell count Normal range is 86 - 98 femtoliters
Mean cell hemoglobin (MCH)
The average amount of hemoglobin in the average red cell This is a calculated value derived from the measurement of hemoglobin and the red cell count Normal range is 27 - 32 picograms
Mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)
The average concentration of hemoglobin in a given volume of red cells This is a calculated volume derived from the hemoglobin measurement and the hematocrit Normal range is 32 – 36 g/dl.
Red cell distribution width (RDW)
A measurement of the variability of red cell size Higher numbers indicate greater variation in size Normal range is 11 – 15%
Platelet count
The number of platelets in a volume blood Platelets play a vital role in blood clotting Normal range varies slightly between laboratories but is in the range of 150,000 - 400,000/ cmm (150 - 400 x 109/liter)
Indication for CBC
The complete blood count (CBC) is a screening test, used to diagnose and manage numerous diseases
It can reflect problems with fluid volume (such as dehydration) or loss of blood
It can show abnormalities in the production, life span, and destruction of blood cells
It can reflect acute or chronic infection, allergies, and problems with clotting.
The CBC test isolates and counts the six types of cells found in the blood: eosinophil, neutrophil, band cell, red blood cell, lymphocyte, and monocyte
Procedure
A CBC requires a simple blood drawing
Blood is drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation After the blood is drawn, there may be some throbbing
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There are a few slight risks associated with a CBC: Excessive bleeding Fainting or feeling lightheaded Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin) Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken) Multiple punctures to locate veins
Results: Normal values vary with altitude and gender. Low numbers of red blood cells may indicate:
Blood loss Anemia (various types) Hemorrhage Bone marrow failure (for example, from radiation, toxin, fibrosis, tumor) Erythropoietin deficiency (secondary to renal disease) Hemolysis (RBC destruction) from transfusion reaction Leukemia Multiple myeloma Malnutrition (nutritional deficiencies of iron, folate, vitamin B12, vitamin B6) Over hydration
High numbers of red blood cells may indicate:
Low oxygen tension in the blood Congenital heart disease Cor pulmonale Pulmonary fibrosis Polycythemia vera Dehydration (such as from severe diarrhea) Renal (kidney) disease with high erythropoietin production
Low numbers of white blood cells (leukopenia) may indicate:
Bone marrow failure (for example, due to granuloma (granular tumor), tumor, or fibrosis) Presence of cytotoxic substance Collagen-vascular diseases (such as lupus erythematosus) Disease of the liver or spleen Radiation exposure
High numbers of white blood cells (leukocytosis) may indicate:
Infectious diseases Inflammatory disease (such as rheumatoid arthritis or allergy) Leukemia Severe emotional or physical stress Tissue damage (for example, burns)
A low hematocrit may indicate:
Anemia (various types) Blood loss (hemorrhage) Bone marrow failure (for example, due to radiation, toxin, fibrosis, tumor) Hemolysis (RBC destruction) related to transfusion reaction Leukemia Malnutrition or specific nutritional deficiency Multiple myeloma Over hydration Rheumatoid arthritis
A high hematocrit may indicate:
Dehydration Burns Diarrhea Eclampsia Erythrocytosis Polycythemia vera Shock
Low hemoglobin values may indicate: Anemia (various types) Blood loss
ESR
The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), also called a sedimentation rate is the rate at which red blood cells precipitate in a period of 1 hour
It's a common haematology test which is a non-specific measure of inflammation
To perform the test, anticoagulated blood is placed in an upright tube, known as a Westergren tube and the rate at which the red blood cells fall is measured and reported in mm/h.
The red cells form stacks called 'rouleaux' which settle faster
The ESR is increased by any cause or focus of inflammation. The ESR is decreased in sickle cell anemia, polycythemia, and congestive heart failure. The basal ESR is slightly higher in females ESR Age (years) 20 55 90 Men 10 14 19 Women 15 21 23
Cross-matching
A blood type (also called a blood group) is a classification of blood based on the presence or absence of inherited antigenic substances on the surface of red blood cells (RBCs)
ABO and Rh blood grouping
Cross-matching, refers to the testing that is performed to determine the compatibility of a donated unit of blood with its intended recipient
Cross-matching is done by a qualified laboratory technologist in a blood bank, and can be done electronically, with a computer database, or serologically
Blood culture
Blood culture is microbiological culture of blood
It is employed to detect infections that are spreading through the bloodstream (bacteremia, septicemia)
Microbial organisms multiply and reproduce in predetermined culture media under controlled laboratory conditions
Blood culture are used to determine the type of organism, its abundance in the sample being tested, or both
Biochemical analysis
A basic metabolic panel measures sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), magnesium, creatinine, and glucose. It also sometimes includes calcium
Normal Ranges
Sodium (Na) 136-145mmol/L Potassium (K) 3.5-4.5mmol/L Urea 2.5-6.4 mmol/L BUN - blood urea nitrogen Urea 7-18mg/dL Creatinine – male 62-115μmol/L or 0.7-1.3mg/dL Creatinine – female 53-97μmol/L or 0.6-1.1mg/dL Glucose (fasting) 3.9-5.8mmol/L Glucose (fasting) 70- 105mg/dL
Some blood tests, such as measuring glucose, cholesterol or for STD screening require fasting (or no food consumption) eight to twelve hours prior to the blood test
While the regular glucose test is taken at a certain point in time, the glucose tolerance test involves repeated testing to determine the rate at which glucose is processed by the body
For the majority of blood tests, blood is usually obtained from the patient's vein. However, other specialized blood tests, such as the Arterial blood gas, require blood extracted from an artery
Arterial blood gas analysis
Blood gas analysis of arterial blood is primarily used to monitor carbon dioxide and oxygen levels related to pulmonary function. But, it is also used to measure blood pH and bicarbonate levels for certain metabolic conditions.
Molecular profiles
Protein electrophoresis (general technique -- not a specific test) Western blot (general technique -- not a specific test) Liver function tests Polymerase chain reaction (DNA). DNA testing is today possible with even very small quantities of blood: this is commonly used in forensic science, but is now also part of the diagnostic process of many disorders. Northern blot (RNA) Sexually transmitted diseases