Unit #5B Clinical

Laboratory Testing
Basic Hematology
Cecile Sanders, M.Ed., MLS(ASCP)

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

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

Unit #5B Clinical Laboratory

Testing Basic Hematology

Cellular Elements make up the remainder

of the blood volume
Erythrocytes

/ RBCs

~ 4-6 million/L
Transport oxygen and carbon dioxide

Electron Micrograph

Stained Blood Smear Viewed by Microscope

Unit #5B Clinical Laboratory

Testing Basic Hematology
Leukocytes

/ WBCs

~ 4,800-10,800 /L 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
Microscope

Stained WBC Viewed Under

Unit #5B Clinical Laboratory

Testing Basic Hematology
Types of WBCs:
Granulocytes (neutrophils, basophils, &
eosinophils)
Drawing

Stained Granulocytes Viewed Under

Microscope

Unit #5B Clinical Laboratory

Testing Basic Hematology
Lymphocytes

Monocytes

(On blood smear)

(On blood smear)

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)

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

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

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

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