GPT FBC Notes

Question 1

What does a Full Blood Count (FBC) measure?

Answer 1

RBCs, WBCs (with differentials), platelets, and related indices

Question 2

What does a low RBC count indicate?

Answer 2

Anemia, blood loss, bone marrow failure

Question 3

What does a high RBC count indicate?

Answer 3

Polycythemia vera, chronic hypoxia

Question 4

What does low hemoglobin (Hb) suggest?

Answer 4

Anemia or bleeding

Question 5

What does high hemoglobin (Hb) suggest?

Answer 5

Polycythemia vera, dehydration, chronic hypoxia

Question 6

What does a low hematocrit (Hct) indicate?

Answer 6

Anemia

Question 7

What does a high hematocrit (Hct) indicate?

Answer 7

Polycythemia vera or volume contraction

Question 8

What does a low MCV indicate?

Answer 8

Microcytic anemia (e.g. iron deficiency)

Question 9

What does a high MCV indicate?

Answer 9

Macrocytic anemia (e.g. B12 or folate deficiency)

Question 10

What does increased RDW suggest?

Answer 10

Variation in RBC size (e.g. mixed or early-stage anemia)

Question 11

What additional tests help evaluate anemia?

Answer 11

Iron studies, B12/folate levels, reticulocyte count, blood film

Question 12

What causes high total WBC count?

Answer 12

Infection, inflammation, leukemia

Question 13

What causes low WBC count?

Answer 13

Bone marrow failure, chemotherapy, aplastic anemia

Question 14

What does neutrophilia suggest?

Answer 14

Bacterial infection, stress, corticosteroids

Question 15

What does neutropenia suggest?

Answer 15

Aplastic anemia, viral infection, chemotherapy

Question 16

What does lymphocytosis suggest?

Answer 16

Viral infection, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)

Question 17

What does lymphopenia suggest?

Answer 17

HIV, steroids, immunosuppression

Question 18

What does eosinophilia indicate?

Answer 18

Allergy, parasitic infection, Hodgkin lymphoma

Question 19

What causes basophilia?

Answer 19

Myeloproliferative disease (e.g. CML)

Question 20

What additional tests help evaluate WBC disorders?

Answer 20

Blood film, CRP/ESR, bone marrow biopsy, flow cytometry

Question 21

What does thrombocytopenia suggest?

Answer 21

ITP, leukemia, DIC, marrow failure

Question 22

What does thrombocytosis suggest?

Answer 22

Inflammation, iron deficiency, essential thrombocythemia

Question 23

What does high MPV suggest?

Answer 23

Increased platelet turnover (e.g. ITP)

Question 24

What does low MPV suggest?

Answer 24

Aplastic bone marrow or old platelets

Question 25

What is pancytopenia?

Answer 25

Reduction in all blood cell types — RBCs, WBCs, and platelets

Question 26

What are causes of pancytopenia?

Answer 26

Aplastic anemia, leukemia, chemo, myelodysplasia

Question 27

What does a combination of ↑RBCs, ↑WBCs, and ↑platelets suggest?

Answer 27

Myeloproliferative neoplasm (e.g. polycythemia vera, CML)

Question 28

What mutation is commonly associated with polycythemia vera?

Answer 28

JAK2 mutation

Question 29

What genetic abnormality is associated with CML?

Answer 29

Philadelphia chromosome (BCR-ABL fusion gene)

Question 30

What does neutrophilia with a left shift indicate?

Answer 30

Acute bacterial infection

Question 31

What does thrombocytopenia with bleeding suggest?

Answer 31

ITP, leukemia, DIC

Question 32

What does thrombocytosis with clotting risk suggest?

Answer 32

Essential thrombocythemia or inflammation

Question 33

What is the key difference between microcytic and macrocytic anemia?

Answer 33

Microcytic: iron deficiency; Macrocytic: B12/folate deficiency or liver disease