Lab Investigation of The Full Blood Count and White Cell Disorders

Question 1

Where does blood cell production occur?

Where does maturation occur and where do cells move to once they are matured?

Answer 1

Blood cell production (red +white) occurs in the bone marrow of long bones.
Maturation occurs in Bone Marrow. Once cells are matured, they move to the peripheral blood.

Question 2

Outline haematopoiesis

Answer 2

starts with a multipotential haematopoietic stem cell that differentiates either into a common myeloid or lymphoid progenitor which then give rise to different types of progenitors (check ppt slide for different routes etc)

Question 3

What makes up a full blood count (FBC)?

Answer 3

Red Blood Cells Results
Hb: concentration of Haemoglobin
Hct: Percentage of blood volume as RBC
MCV: Average size of RBC
MCH: Average haemoglobin content of RBC
RDW: Range of deviation around RBC size
Reticulocyte count
Blood film

However, it is Not just RBC results:
Also includes:

White Blood Cells Results
Total WBC and differential
Neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes,
basophils, eosinophils

Platelets results
Platelet count and size

Others: Warning Flags

If something abnormal shows up, a blood film will be prepared and further analysed

Question 4

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using an Automated Haematology Analyzer?

Answer 4

Advantages

Efficient and cost effective:
processing of large number of samples.

Accuracy and precision of quantitative blood test

Ability to perform multiple test on single platform

Reduced labour requirements

Invaluable for accurate determination of red cell indices; e.g. MCV

Disadvantages

Flagging of laboratory test results demand labour intensive manual examination of blood smear.

Comments on red cell morphology cannot be generated.

Platelet clumps are counted at single, so low count.

Expensive with high running cost

All automated counters are screening devices; abnormalities must be verified by blood film, staining & scanning by an expert observer.