Haematological Tests Flashcards
What is measured in iron studies?
- Serum Iron
- Total Iron binding capcity
- Serum Ferritin
What are the following?
Acanthocytes - spicules on RBCs, due to RBC membrane lipid structure
What are causes of acanthocytes?
- Splenectomy
- Alcoholic liver disease
- Spherocytosis
- Haemoglobinopathy
What can cause blast cells in plasma?
- Myelofibrosis
- Leukaemia
- Malignant bone marrow infiltration
What is the following?
Basophilic stippling - denatured RNA found in RBCs, indicating accelerated erythropeises of defective Hb synthesis
What can cause Basophilic stippling?
- Lead poisoning
- Megaloblastic anaemia
- Leukaemia
- Malignant infiltration
What are the following?
Cabot rings - thin, red-violet staining, threadlike strands in the shape of a loop or figure-8 that are found on rare occasions in red blood cells (erythrocytes)
What are causes of cabot rings?
- Pernicious anaemia
- Lead poisoning
- Bad infections
What is the following?
Howell jolly bodies - DNA nuclear remanats in RBCs, which are normally removed by the spleen
What are causes of Howell-Jolly Bodies?
- Post-splenectomy
- Hyposplenism
- Myelodysplasia
- Megaloblastic anaemia
What is the following?
Hypochromia - less dense staining of RBCs caused by decreased Hb synthesis
What is the following?
Poikilocytosis - variation in RBC shape
What are causes of poikilocytosis?
- IDA
- Myelofibrosis
- Thalassemia
What are the following?
Reticulocytes - Young, large RBCs signifying active erythropoeisis
When might you see reticulocytosis on blood film?
- Haemolysis
- Haemorrhage
- If B12, folate or iron given to marrow that lack these nutrients