Chapter 7 - SPECIAL HEMATOLOGY PROCEDURES Flashcards
are distorted cells appearing as thin, dense and elongated cells with both ends pointed
Sickle cells
is caused by the precipitation of an atypical hemoglobin (commonly hemoglobin S ), which distort the red blood cells into a sickle or crescent shape.
Sickling
is fully soluble when oxygenated but becomes insoluble when the oxygen level is decreased.
Hemoglobin S
It first polymerizes then forms into crystals which cause the red cell to become rigid
Hemoglobin S
Principle: the red blood cells take on a sickle-like shape when oxygen supply to the red cell is decreased (HbS forms insoluble tactoid crystals when exposed to low oxygen tension)
Sealed Whole Blood Method (Scriver & Waugh)
Degree of sickling depends on the concentration of Hb S in the RBC
Sealed Whole Blood Method (Scriver & Waugh)
Readings are made at an hourly interval for 2 - 3 hrs
Sealed Whole Blood Method (Scriver & Waugh)
A positive result is diagnostic but does NOT distinguish between hb S trait and hb S anemia
Sealed Whole Blood Method (Scriver & Waugh)
Reagent: 2 % Sodium metabisulfite or sodium bisulfate
Sodium Metabisulfite Methods (Daland & Castle)
Principle: A drop of blood is mixed with a drop of 2% sodium metabisulfite (a reducing agent) on a slide, and the mixture is sealed under a coverslip. The hemoglobin inside the RBCs becomes deoxygenated causing polymerization and the resultant sickle cell formation.
Sodium Metabisulfite Methods (Daland & Castle)
Reagent: Sodium hydrosulfite (dithionite)
Solubility test
Specimen: Whole blood with EDTA, heparin or sodium citrate
Solubility test
Principle: Red cells are lysed by saponin allowing Hb to escape. Sodium dithionite binds and removes oxygen from the test environment. HbS polymerizes in the deoxygenated state and forms a precipitate in a high-molarity phosphate buffer solution. The tactoids refract or deflect light and make the solution TURBID.
Solubility test
Observe specimen for turbidity by holding the tube 2.5 cm in front of a newsprint or a card reader with thin black lines.
Solubility test
TURBIDITY indicates PRESENCE of sickling Hb regardless of any genotype
Solubility test
Principle: Hb A & S reagents contain monoclonal antibodies (IgG), which specifically bind to the amino acids at or near the 6th position of the B-chain of hb S and A.
will react with the B-chain of HbS. but not with Hb A
Hb S monoclonal Ab
will react with the B-chain of HbA, but not with Hb S
Hb A monoclonal Ab
are adsorbed to suspended metal sol particles giving the reagent raspberry-like color.
Abs
Confirmatory tests:
Hemoglobin Electrophoresis; High performance liquid chromatography; Capillary
electrophoresis
are young erythrocytes that are in a discrete, penultimate phase of maturation where the nucleus has been removed, however, some of the extranuclear RNA remains in the cytoplasm.
Reticulocytes
The term (?) is derived from the fact that the cell contains a small network of basophilic materials called reticulum which is demonstrable only by supravital stain.
reticulocyte
In the peripheral blood they are called as (?).
polychromatophilic erythrocytes
Reticulocyte count and its associated corrections can be used to assess
bone marrow erythrophoietic activity.
The (?) is stained supravitally. Any non-nucleated RBC that contains 2 or more blue stained particles/granulofilamentous materials, is counted as reticulocyte.
ribosomal RNA
: Wet method and Dr Method (schillings method)
Methods of Staining
Reticulocytes are enumerated among 1000 RBCs in areas where RBCs are close but not overlapping and reticulocytes appear to be well stained.
Light Microscope
Light Microscope Retic % =
The calibrated Miller disc appears in the field with 2 squares: a large square and a small square inside the large square which is 1/9 the size of the larger square.
Miller Disc Method
Reticulocytes are counted in the large square while RBCs are counted in the small square in successive fields on the film until a total of 500 RBCs have been counted
Miller Disc Method
Miller Disc Method Retic % =
Reference Value:
Adults:
Newborn:
Adults: 0.5 - 1.5 %
Newborn: 2.5 - 6.5 %
Inclusions confused with Reticulocytes:
Pappenheimer bodies; Howell-Jolly bodies; Heinz bodies; Artifact
: actual number of Reticulocytes in 1 Liter of whole blood.
Absolute Reticulocyte Count
ARC =
Reference Value:
25.000 - 75,000 /uL
this corrects the Reticulocte count to a normal Hct to allow correction for the degree of patient anemia.
Corrected Retic count / Reticulocyte Index
The percentage of reticuloctes may appear increased because of early release into the circulation or because of a decrease in the number of mature RBCs in the circulation.
Corrected Retic count / Reticulocyte Index
CRC =
Reference value:
1% (depends on the degree of anemia)
: Index calculated to correct for the presence of shift reticulocytes that otherwise may falsely elevate the visual reticulocyte count.
Reticulocyte Production Index/Shift Correction (RPI)
RPI =
Reference value:
1 if hct is 0.45
Clinical Significance of Reticulocytes:
Increased in hemolytic & hemorrhagic anemias
40 - 45
35 - 39
25 - 34
15 - 24
< 15
40 - 45 1.0
35 - 39 1.5
25 - 34 2.0
15 - 24 2.5
< 15 3
measures the ability of the RBCs to take in fluid without lysing.
OFT
It Reflects RBC shape and size (surface area-to-volume ratio).
OFT
This is used to detect spherocytosis, because spherocytes rupture in saline concentrations near the normal level.
OFT
It may also detect target cells, which, owing to their reduced hemoglobin content, are able to withstand osmotic stress and rupture only at very dilute saline concentrations.
OFT
Importance: Diagnosis of (?) and other hemolytic anemias associated with spherocytes.
Hereditary Spherocytosis (HS)
Affected by: shape of the RBC, which in turns depends on the (?).
volume, surface area and functional state of the cell membrane
Specimen: (?); Blood sample should be obtained with minimum trauma and stasis
Heparinized blood or defibrinated blood
Normal Result:
Incomplete hemolysis:
Complete hemolysis:
0.45 %
0.35 %
whole blood is pipetted to each of a series of hypotonic saline solutions of graduated concentration.
Sanford Method
Uses hypotonic saline buffered with PO4 at ph 7.4
Dace Med
Hemolysis is determined spectrophotometrically at 540 nm
Dace Med
: sterile incubation at 37OC for 18 24 hrs to detect mild forms of hereditary spherocytosis.
Incubated OFT
Clinical Significance of OFT:
Increased OFT:
Hereditary spherocytosis; red cells with abnormal membrane; severe G-6-PDH deficiency; Pyruvate kinase deficiency; hemolytic anemias
Clinical Significance of OFT:
Decreased OFT:
Sickle cell anemia, severe Iron deficiency anemia, Thalassemia