Erythrocytes 1: indices and terminologies (AS) Flashcards
why is automated machinery useful when studying erythrocytes?
- automated counter e.g. Coulter counter
- fast
- Accurate. coefficient of variation (measurement error) is < 2%
what types of measurements are used in blood screening?
- Red Blood Cell count
- haemoglobin
- haematocrit
- erythrocyte indices
- Reticulocyte count
What are examples of erythrocyte indices?
- Mean cell volume
- Mean cell haemoglobin
- mean corpuscle haemoglobin concentration (MCHC)
- erythrocyte distribution width (RDW)
- Blood cell morphology (E.g. size)
what is does it mean if your Reticulocyte count increases?
it means that your body need oxygen urgently and is pulling oxygen out of all its reserves
what is a reticulocyte?
an immature red blood cell
what is Anaemia?
a state in which the concentration of Hb is below the normal for that age or gender leading to reduced ability to transport O2
what is Haemoglobinopathy?
a hematologic disorder due to alteration of the genetically determined molecular structure of Hb
what are examples of haemoglobinopathy?
Examples are:
- Sickle cell anaemia
- Haemolytic Anaemia
- Thalassaemia
what is the change in Sickle cell cells that causes them to be the way they are?
Sickle cells’ ß global chain is replaced by HbS, which has the valince amino acid instead of glutamic acid
what does Anisocytosis mean?
Unequal size
what does poikilocytosis mean?
Unequal shape
what do macrocytic and microcytic cells refer to?
these refer to cells that are larger or smaller than normal
