Lecture1

• What is the process of taking venous blood called?

  Venepuncture
• What is the purpose of Vacutainers in venepuncture?

  To draw blood without a syringe
• What is the procedure for obtaining bone marrow called?

  Bone marrow aspiration
• What are the four key areas of laboratory haematology?

  The blood film, full blood count, haemostasis, haematinics
• What does peripheral blood examination include?

  Detection of abnormal cells and RBC distribution
• What is estimated during a peripheral blood film examination?

  WBC and platelet count
• How is a peripheral blood smear prepared?

  EDTA anticoagulated blood is smeared on a slide

  
• What are the advantages of automated methods in blood smear preparation?

  Minimal exposure to biohazardous material
• What do Romanowsky-type stains bind to?

  Chemical structures in cells
• What is the size of a normal erythrocyte?

  7-8 μm
• What is anisocytosis?

  Variation in red cell size
• What is a normocyte?

  A red blood cell with normal MCV
• What is a microcyte?

  RBCs smaller than normal
• What is a macrocyte?

  RBCs larger than normal
• What does poikilocytosis refer to?

  Nonspecific variation in RBC shape
• What does hypochromic mean in terms of RBCs?

  Cells contain less Hb than normal
• What characterizes hyperchromic RBCs?

  Loss of central pallor due to shape loss
• What are polychromatophilic RBCs?

  Immature RBCs with a bluish tinge
• How many types of leukocytes are there?

  Five different types
• What are the five types of leukocytes?

  Neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil, basophil

  
• What does a full blood count analyze?

  Several tests including hemoglobin and RBC count
• What does MCV stand for?

  Mean Cell Volume
• How is MCH calculated?

  MCH = Hb / RBCC
• What does haematocrit measure?

  Proportion of whole blood taken by blood cells
• What is the role of platelets?

  Required for clot formation
• What is haemostasis?

  Maintain blood in a fluid state and clotting regulation
• What are major micronutrients required for erythrocytes?

  Iron and vitamin B12
• What happens during erythropoiesis?

  Haemoglobin accumulation and nuclear condensation
• What are the steps involved in a full blood count?

  • Hemoglobin measurement
  • Red blood cell count
  • Platelet count
  • Haematocrit calculation
  • Red cell indices measurement
  • Reticulocyte count
  • Leukocyte count
  • Leukocyte differential
• What are the differences between mononuclear and polymorphonuclear leukocytes?

  • Mononuclear leukocytes:
  • Regular nucleus
  • Generally free of granules
  • Polymorphonuclear leukocytes:
  • Irregular nucleus
  • Defined by granules
• What are the characteristics of erythrocyte morphology?

  • Discocyte shape (biconcave)
  • Central area of pallor
  • Size: 7-8 μm
  • Occupies about 1/3 of cell diameter
• What are the variations in erythrocyte color and their meanings?

  • Hypochromic: less Hb, central pallor >1/3
  • Hyperchromic: loss of central pallor
  • Polychromatophilic: immature RBCs with bluish tinge
• What are the methods used to identify reticulocytes?

  • Supravital stain (new methylene blue)
  • Fluorescence flow cytometry (thiazole orange)
• What is the significance of the presence of nucleated RBCs?

  • Indicates a pathological process
  • Small numbers may be present in healthy blood