Full Blood Count

Question 1

Full Blood Count

Answer 1

Screening and monitoring test
Reviewed with - age, sex and clinical details
Principles - impedance counting, flow cytometry
Sample requirements whole blood anti-coagulated in - Eythelne diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA)
Screening - Anaemia, infection, monitoring tool to assess general health status
Monitoring - chronic conditions, renal disease, haematological conditions
1 EDTA required for FBC

Question 2

Red Cell Indicies

Answer 2

Parameters measure -
Mean Cell Volume - MCV
Mean cell Haemoglobin - MCH
Red Cell Distribution Width - RDW
Red blood count - RBC

Question 3

Flow Cytometry

Answer 3

Forward scatter - intensity indicates cell volume
Side scatter - intensity indicates contents granularity
Side fluorescent light - indicates amount of DNA/RNA in a cell

Question 4

RBC/PLT - red blood cells and platelets

Answer 4

Impedence counting method
Cells suspended in sheath
Pass through aperture individually
Direct current between electrodes change as cells pass through

Question 5

SLS method - Hb testing

Answer 5

Cyanide free sodium laurly sulphate
Lyses erythrocytes and leucocytes
Changes globin chains