Haematology Flashcards
Which red blood cells are not biconcave discs?
Spherocytes
The smallest % of normal cells in a differential count is
Basophils
The five types of leukocytes found in normal peripheral blood are…
Lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils
What is meant by PCV?
Packed cell volume, the percentage of red cells (compared to serum) present in a blood sample.
The term thrombocytopenia indicates a/an…
Abnormally low number of thrombocytes
Blood samples collected Saturday at 10 am can be stored in the refrigerator and sent to Gribbles Monday morning without any major effect on results.
False
In allergic conditions, we commonly find an increased level of
Eosinophils
The chief function of the platelet is to?
Aid in coagulation
A veterinary nurse is performing venipuncture to collect a whole blood sample for a CBC. Which colour tube does she need to preserve her sample?
Purple top
Polychromatopohilic erythrocytes are also called…
Reticulocytes
The cell that functions in the defensive mechanism of the body during infection is
Neutrophil
The anticoagulant that is best for blood samples that are to be used for haematological studies is?
EDTA: Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid
The cell that functions as a plug at the site of bleeding is the…
Platelet
An increase of total leukocytes over the normal is called…
Leukocytosis
What is the term for the diagnostic exam that provides information on RBC count, WBC count, platelet count, and PCV?
Complete Blood Count
What do red blood cells do?
They transport oxygen from the lungs to the tissues/cells around the body.
What allows red blood cells to carry oxygen?
Haemoglobin, allows RBCs to transport oxygen and to hold the cell shape.
What is a erythrocyte?
A red blood cell.
how much haemoglobin does each red blood cell have?
Four iron-containing haemoglobin units.
What is bi-concave?
Concave on both sides, like a red blood cell.
How long do RBCs live for?
2-5 months.
What is the production of new red blood cells called?
Erythropoiesis.
What are leukocytes?
White blood cells.
What are platelets also known as?
Thrombocytes
What is the role of platelets?
Stopping bleeding/haemorrhage by acting as a plug.
How long is a platelet in the circulating blood for?
4-6 days
What is the function of plasma?
It carries and transports the blood cells and other substances. It also has clotting factors.
What are the two types of neutrophils?
Segmented and bands
Low RBC count =
Anaemia
High RBC count =
Polycythaemia
Low WBC count =
Leukopoenia
High WBC count =
Leukycytosis
Low Platelet count =
Thrombocytopoenia
High Platelet count =
Thrombocytosis
What is a low PCV?
Anaemia
What is a high PCV?
Polycythemia
What are the layers in a PCV?
Top layer is the serum/plasma. It contains waters, proteins, nutrients, hormones.
Second layer is the buffy coat. It contains WBCs and platelets.
Last layer is the hematocrit, the red blood cells.
What is a segmented neutrophil?
- Most abundant WBC
- First responders to microbial infection
- Segmented nucleus
- Pale lilac granules in cytoplasm
- Target bacteria/fungi
- Their death in large numbers = pus
What is a band neutrophil?
- Immature neutrophil
- Indicates high demand for WBC
- Horse shoe shaped nucleus
What is an eosinophil?
• Rare in the blood • Target (hookworm/tapeworm) and allergic inflammation, spleen and CNS disease • Nucleus lobes connected by thin strand • Granule cytoplasm pinky colour
What is a basophil?
• Most rare WBC
• Coarse dark blue granules in the cytoplasm
• Release histamine and heparin causing
vessel dilation
What is a lymphocyte?
• More common in lymphatic system than
blood
• B cells = release antibodies – activate T cells
• T cells = returns normal function to
immune system
• Large dark nucleus with small cytoplasm
What is a monocyte?
• Largest WBC
• Vacuum cleaners – become tissue
macrophages – removing dead cell debris
• Kidney shaped nucleus with less granulation
What does a CBC include?
Red Blood Cells, White Blood Cells, platelets, haemoglobin
concentration, Hemstocrit, Mean Cell Volume (MCV), Mean Cell
Haemoglobin (MCH), Mean Cell Haemoglobin Concentration
(MCHC)
Where are most of the plasma proteins produced?
The liver, it makes albumin, globulins, fibrinogen.
What does the bone marrow produce?
Platelets, RBCs, WBCs
What can abnormal platelet morphology indicate?
bleeding disorders and leukaemia (cancer of blood-forming tissues)
Echinocytes are…
- Crenated RBCs
- Can occur during fixing stage, too long in fixer, not a fresh sample, collection errors,
- NOT spikey
- Do have a central pallor
- Artifact – mostly insignificant finding
Acanthocytes are…
- RBCs
- Irregular shaped and unevenly surface spikes
- From changes in cholesterol = can indicate liver disease, DIC
Schistocytes are…
- Erythrocyte fragments – half moon fragmented cells
- Shearing of the RBC from intravascular trauma
- DIC, iron deficiency, cancer of the spleen
- Mostly in dogs rather than cats
Codocytes are…
- Bulls eye appearance
- Increased RBC membrane cholesterol to phospholipid ratio
- Common but mostly insignificant- but can be related to liver disease
- A large number found should indicate a liver enzyme test
Poikilocytosis is…
- General term for “abnormally shaped erythrocytes”
- Multiple abnormalities simultaneously
- Acanthocytes, schistocytes, echinocytes
Agglutination is…
RBC clumping
Rouleaux is…
- Looks like stacks of coins
- Normal in dogs but……
- Increase numbers can indicate inflammatory diseases
- Stacked RBCs
Heinz bodies are…
- Nose – like projections from cells surface
- ‘pimples’ on red blood surface
What is microcytosis?
Smaller then normal RBCs
What is anisocytosis
RBCs that are varying sizes, mostly larger and darker
Hypochromasia =
Pale across all RBCs
Polychromasia =
RBCs varying colour, more darker and larger
What does non-regenerative anaemia show?
-Low PCV
-Cells appear old and pale, shrinking/smaller
-Schistocytes may be present
-Why?
No new cells being released from bone marrow
What does regenerative anaemia show?
-Low PCV
-Evidence of regeneration = polychromasia and anisocytosis
varying sizes, large and dark
-Why?
Young RBCs are large and nucleated
“young blood cells are BIG AND BLUE”
