Hematology Notes
RBCs count
There are two methods for counting RBCs; 1) Automated method through the electronic blood cells counter. 2) Manual method using the hemocytometer. Electronic counter is more accurate than the hemocytometer method. The electronic counter is expensive, needs periodical maintenance. Maintenance of blood counter is very important; failure to do that will result in misleading results. … Read more
The best anticoagulant for complete blood count (CBC)
An anticoagulant is a preservative that used to preserve the blood sample in a state similar to its state inside the body. An anticoagulant that is used for cbc must be neither affecting the structure of the formed elements of blood, nor produce any dilution to the plasma. Ethylene Diamine Tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) is considered … Read more
The significance of blood film examination
1. Identification of different animal species. 2. Morphological examination of the erythrocytes and leucocytes. 3. Carrying out DLC. 4. Diagnosis of some types of leukaemia. 5. Diagnosis of blood parasites infections either intercellular or intracellular. 6. Diagnosis of bacterial diseases, during bacteraemia. 7. Prognosis of disease through estimating the count of band cells or hypersegmented … Read more
Anemia
Anemia is a blood disorder, it is not a disease, but it is a sign for a disease. Anemia is defined as the decrease in red blood cells count or hemoglobin concentration or both per unit volume of blood. This means that the decrease of either red blood cells count alone or hemoglobin concentration alone … Read more
Polycythemia
Prof. Mahmoud Rushdi (Assiut University-Egypt) Definition Polycythemia is the increase of RBCs count above the normal upper limit specific for each animal species. There are two types of polycythemia, which are relative and absolute polycythemia. Relative polycythemia is defined as the relative increase of RBCs count due to loss of fluids from the body. The … Read more
Mean Corpuscular Values
Three values are calculated mathematically and used mainly to measure the average size of the RBC, average hemoglobin weight and percent of hemoglobin per individual erythrocyte. The mean corpuscular values are: – Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), MCV is obtained by dividing the value of packed cells volume (PCV) on the RBCs count, and then multiply … Read more
Hemoglobin concentration
Hemoglobin (Hb) is the red pigment that contained in the RBCs, its major function is to bind oxygen and transport it to the tissues and to bind CO2 and carry it back from the tissues to the lungs. Hemoglobin has the same life span of the RBCs, after the engulfing of old RBCs by the … Read more
White blood cells (WBCs) count
4 4SharesWhite blood cells (WBCs) count There are six types of white blood cells circulates in the blood circulation, which are Neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes and band cells. White blood cells count is an integral part of complete blood count (CBC), and include two main components: 1- White blood cells count. 2- Differential leucocytes count. … Read more
Anticoagulants
Anticoagulants are chemical substances that can prevent blood coagulation. they are considered as chemical preservative for whole blood sample, as it preserve the blood in a state similar to that find inside the body. There are different types of anticoagulants, as Ethylene Diamine Tetraacetic Acid (EDTA), Heparin, Sodium citrate, Potassium and ammonium oxalate mixture and … Read more
Basics of hematological analysis (Complete blood count)
Prof. Mahmoud Rushdi (Assiut University-Egypt) Hematological analysis is concerned with the analysis of the cellular component of blood including tests that used for evaluation of erythrocytes, leucocytes and platelets. Blood sample for complete blood count (CBC) must be collected on EDTA as anticoagulant. Evaluation of the erythrocytes picture involve measuring red blood cells (RBCs) count, … Read more
Components of blood
Blood is composed of two parts: fluid part and cellular part. The fluid part is called the plasma, in which the cells, nutrients and blood gases circulate. The cellular part composed of red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs) or leucocytes and platelets. The fluid part (plasma) The plasma constitute about 55-65% from the … Read more
Erythrocytes Sedimentation Rate
Definition: It is defined as the rate of sedimentation of erythrocytes in a column of anti-coagulated blood at a certain time. Methods: – Wintrobe method. – Westergreen method. Anticoagulant The type of the anticoagulant used for ESR is different according to the method used. EDTA is used for ESR that determined by wintrobe method. However, … Read more
Morphological examination of erythrocytes
All parameters of the erythrocyte picture can be determined using a blood cell counter, except assessing the morphological appearance of the RBCs, which must be evaluated using blood smear. This means, that both electronic blood cell count and blood smear are required to perform the erythrocyte picture. Morphological examination of erythrocytes is carried out by … Read more
Packed Cell Volume (PCV)
DefinitionPacked cells volume (PCV) or Hematocrit, is defined as the percent of blood occupied by RBCs, or simply you can define PCV as the percent of RBCS in whole blood. To measure PCV, the RBCS must be packed together in one layer, which can be achieved by centrifugation of whole blood sample. it is … Read more
Physiological Factors affecting the RBCs count
The circulating red blood cells (RBCs) are produced by the bone marrow, stored in the spleen and circulate in the blood vessels. Life span of the erythrocytes The lifespan of the erythrocytes in human is varied from 90-120 days,. However, in animals the lifespan varies according to the animal species (in cattle 150 days, in … Read more