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Jun 24, 2024 · A guide to interpreting blood tests, including how to approach blood test interpretation, principles of interpretation, reference ranges, identifying safety critical results and clinical reasoning.
- Introduction
- What Tests Are Included in A FBC?
- Reference Ranges
- Red Cell Tests
- White Cell Tests
- Platelet Tests
- Further Reading
This guide provides a structured approach to the interpretation of a full blood count(a.k.a. FBC, complete blood count, CBC) which you should be able to apply in most circumstances.
The full blood count gives insight into the cellular components of blood including white blood cells, red blood cells, and plateletsproviding numerical values relating to these cells (e.g. amount of them, size, contents). These results provide vital clues to the presence of underlying pathology. The long list of acronyms and numbers can seem daunti...
We have included key reference rangesbelow to assist you when interpreting a full blood count. Haemoglobin (Hb): 1. 130 – 180 g/L 2. 115 – 165 g/L White cell count (WCC): 1. Total: 3.6 – 11.0 x 109/L 2. Neutrophils: 1.8 – 7.5 x 109/L 3. Lymphocytes: 1.0 – 4.0 x 109/L 4. Monocytes: 0.2 – 0.8 x 109/L 5. Eosinophils: 0.1 – 0.4 x 109/L 6. Basophils: ...
Red cell testscan quantify the amount of haemoglobin/red cells present in a sample: 1. An abnormally low number of haemoglobin/red cells is known as anaemia 2. An abnormally high number of haemoglobin/red cells is known as polycythaemia. Red cell tests can also provide important insights into the underlying cause(s) of anaemia or polycythaemia by l...
Leukocytosis
A high white cell is known as leukocytosis and can be caused by a wide range of pathological processes. Important factors in determining the cause of leukocytosis include the rate of the white cell count rise and which type of white cell(s) are raised. Common causes of acute leukocytosis: 1. Reactive: infection, inflammation, post-surgery 2. Steroids: stress response (i.e. endogenous steroids) or medication (i.e. exogenous steroids) 3. Haematological: acute leukaemias Common causes of chronic...
Leukopenia
A low white cell count is known as leukopeniaand can also be caused by a wide range of pathological processes. Important factors in determining the cause of leukopenia include the rate of the white cell count fall and the type of white cell(s)which are low. Neutrophils and lymphocytes account for the majority of white cells in the blood, so these types of white cells are typically reduced in the context of leukopenia. A comprehensive assessment is always required to help narrow the differenti...
Platelet count
Platelets (a.k.a. thrombocytes) are disc-shaped cell fragments that react to blood vessel injury by clumping to initiate the formation of a blood clot. The platelet count is the number of platelets present per unit volume of blood. This can be high (thrombocytosis) or low (thrombocytopenia).
For those wanting to improve their overall understanding of haematology, I’ve found the following books really useful: 1. Barbara J Bain. A beginner’s guide to blood cells. Published 2017. 2. Barbara J Bain. Haematology: A Core Curriculum. Published 2010.
Jun 12, 2016 · Arterial blood gas (ABG) interpretation is something that can be difficult to grasp initially (we’ve been there). We’ve created this guide, which aims to provide a structured approach to ABG interpretation whilst also increasing your understanding of each result’s relevance.
The results of an RBC count can be used to help diagnose blood-related conditions, such as iron deficiency anaemia (where there are less red blood cells than normal). A low RBC count could also indicate a vitamin B6, B12 or folate deficiency.
Jun 8, 2024 · Definition/Introduction. The complete blood count (CBC) is one of the most commonly performed laboratory investigations in medicine and provides information regarding circulating blood cell size and quantity. [1] .
- Jason El Brihi, Surabhi Pathak
- 2024/06/08
- Austin Health, Kings Daughters Medical Center
There are lots of reasons why you may need a blood test. A blood test may be done to: check your general health. find out if symptoms you're having are caused by certain conditions. find out if you're more likely to get a condition. find out how well a condition is being treated or managed.
People also ask
What is an arterial blood gas?
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How do you interpret arterial blood gas?
How does a blood test work?
May 31, 2024 · An arterial blood gas is a laboratory test to monitor the patient’s acid-base balance. It is used to determine the extent of the compensation by the buffer system and includes the measurements of the acidity (pH), levels of oxygen, and carbon dioxide in arterial blood.
