eLA: Complete Blood Count

Question 1

What is hematocrit?

Answer 1

The ratio of the volume of RBCs to the volume of the whole blood

Question 2

What is anemia?

Answer 2

Decrease in total red cell mass; reflected by hematocrit and hemoglobin

Question 3

What is counting platelets important for identification of?

Answer 3

Hemostatic abnormalities like Coagulopathies

Question 4

What indicates normocytic anemia?

Answer 4

Acute hemorhage indicated by a normal MCV. Just losing blood.

Question 5

What is indication for microcytic anemia?

Answer 5

This is an iron deficiency and is indicated by a decreased MCV (mean corpuscular volume)

Question 6

Macrocytic anemia is indicated by what?

Answer 6

This is a B12 deficiency and is refelcted by an increased MBV.

Question 7

How is ESR measured?

Answer 7

It is the speed that RBCs fall in a tube under gravity and reflects the amount of negative charge.

-Acute phase reactants promote RBC separation and a more rapid fall rate in the test.

So high ESR can be increased inflammation.

-Should use with a CRP to confirm.

Question 8

What does total leukoyte count include?

Answer 8

Includes PMNs, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils

-left shit reflects increase in bands, indicating these cells have been mobolized from the bone marrow.

Question 9

What is increased MPV a sign of, what about decreased MPV?

Answer 9

Increased MPV is a sign of platelet loss due to peripheral destruction

-decreased MPV is most often marrow suppression