Haematology

Question 1

What is blood

Answer 1

Blood is specialised fluid composed of cells suspended in a liquid. This liquid is plasma

Question 2

What is a buffy coat when blood is made to stand still

Answer 2

Platelets + white blood cells

Question 3

Breakdown of components of blood

Answer 3

Formed elements and plasma

Question 4

Breakdown of components of formed elements

Answer 4

Red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets

Question 5

Breakdown of components of white blood cells

Answer 5

Granulocytes and agranulocytes

Question 6

Breakdown of components of granulocytes

Answer 6

Neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils

Question 7

Breakdown of components of agranulocytes

Answer 7

Lymphocytes and monocytes

Question 8

What do developing RBC’s need to mature

Answer 8

B12 and folate

Question 9

How can changes in cell be detected

Answer 9

Number, higher or lower (blood count)

Appearance on a blood film

Question 10

What can low haemoglobin suggest

Answer 10

Anaemia

Question 11

Anaemia classification based on red cell size

Answer 11

Microlytic - Smaller cells due to Iron deficiency
Due to chronic blood loss
Macrolytic - Larger cells due to B12/folate deficiency
Due to excess alcohol, liver disease, hypothyroidism
Normolytic - Normal cell size
Acute blood loss, inflammation or infection

Question 12

What is anaemia of chronic disease

Answer 12

Inflammation causing anaemia due to changes in iron supply to developing RBC, proliferation of erythroid cells, production of erythropoietin and life span of cells

Question 13

What can cause a false neutrophilia

Answer 13

Steroidal use can redistribute neutrophils into blood rather than a true increase

Question 14

Increase in lymphocytes and monoctyes is

Answer 14

Lymphocytosis and monocytosis

Question 15

Increase in granulocytes

Answer 15

Neutrophilia, eosinophilia and basophilia

Question 16

Increase in leucocyte number

Answer 16

Leucocytosis

Question 17

High platelet count

Answer 17

Thrombocytosis

Question 18

When is thrombocytopenia not genuine

Answer 18

Platelets may clump up in the collection tube

Question 19

What can cause thrombocytopenia

Answer 19

Liver disease, enlarged spleen (trapping) or excessive consumption such as in autoimmune or fibrin clot

Question 20

What is haemostasis

Answer 20

Arrest of bleeding and maintenance of vascular patency

Question 21

Lab assessment of components of plasma

Answer 21

Coagulation proteins (secondary haemostasis) and plasma viscosity

Question 22

Primary vs secondary haemostasis

Answer 22

Formation of platelet plug - Primary

Formation of fibrin clot - Secondary

Question 23

Different measures of coagulation time

Answer 23

Prothrombin time (PT) and
Activated partial thomboplastin time (aPTT)

Question 24

What is thromboplastin

Answer 24

Plasma protein aiding blood coagulation through catalyzing conversion of prothrombin to thrombin

Question 25

Why does prothrombin time shorten faster than activated partial thromboplastin time

Answer 25

As factor VII (measured in PT) has a shorter half life than activated partial thomboplastin time

Question 26

What helps in fibrinolysis

Answer 26

Plasmin that forms from plasminogen, activated by tissue plasminogen activator

Question 27

How is fibrinolysis measured

Answer 27

D-dimers which are fibrin degradation products are measured

Question 28

When can increased fibrinolysis be found

Answer 28

Increased fibrinolysis can be found in thrombosis, inflammation, malignancy and heart failure