FBC Flashcards
What can a FBC detect?
Hb conc Haematocrit Red cell count Mean cell volume Mean cell Hb Mean cell Hb conc Reticulocyte count WBC differential Platelet count
What is haematocrit?
Also known as packed cell volume - The proportion of blood taken up by RBC
What is red cell count used for?
Used in microcytic anaemias
What is mean cell volume?
Shows the size of RBCs, used to determine the type of anaemia.
PCV / RBC count
What is MCH?
Hb / RBC count
What is MCHC?
Hb / PCV
What is WBC differential?
Sum of the leukocytes and immature precursors.
Neutrophils should be greater than lymphocytes in adults but the opposite in children.
What is a blood film?
Shows if the FBC is accurate, clumping, shapes of RBC, Hb content and presence of blasts
What is hypochromic?
Pale, low Hb content
What is EDTA Ig?
EDTA collates Ca in the blood to prevent clotting. The Ig causes clumping in a test tube but is asymptomatic in the body.
What does a low Hb conc mean?
<13g.dL males or <11.5g.dL = ANAEMIA
<130g.L, <115g.L
What does a low MCHC show?
Hypochromic = microcytic anaemia
What does a high MCHC show?
Hyperchromic due to spherocytosis and sickle cell
What does a high reticulocyte count show?
Attempt to increase RBC production due to HAEMOLYSIS
What does a high haematocrit and red cell count show?
ABSOLUTE POLYCYTHEMIA >55%
What is polycythemia vera?
A BM disease causing increased production of blood cells. Precursor to acute myeloid leukaemia.