Haematology

Question 1

Name 3 different areas of study within the field of haematology

Answer 1

a. Haemopoiesis
b. Haemoglobin
c. Coagulation

Question 2

Anaemia is a disease studied in a routine haematology laboratory. What is anaemia?

Answer 2

Anaemia is a condition in which you lack enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your body’s tissues.

Question 3

Explain what is meant by the term Leukaemia.

Answer 3

A type of blood cancer that affects the blood cells in your bone marrow.

Question 4

What is haemopoiesis?

Answer 4

a. The production of blood cells and platelets, which occurs in the bone marrow

Question 5

What is Erythropoiesis?

Answer 5

a. The production of red blood cells

Question 6

What is the correct term for a disease in neutrophils?

Answer 6

a. Neutropaenia

Question 7

Where does haemopoiesis occur? Explain why you might have more than one answer.

Answer 7

a. Depending on the stage of development the production is in different places.
a. Foetus
i. Yolk sac
ii. Liver
iii. Spleen
iv. Bone marrow
v. Lymph nodes
b. Adult
i. Bone marrow

Question 8

Describe the shape of a RBC. Why do RBC have this shape?

Answer 8

RBC’s are shaped as a biconcave disc. To maximise surface area and allow for a more efficient transfer of oxygen

Question 9

Discuss the significance of the RBC membrane.

Answer 9

The membrane structure controls the shape of the RBC

Question 10

List 3 Granulocytes that can be found in peripheral blood.

Answer 10

a. Neutrophils
b. Eosinophils
c. Basophils

Question 11

List each of the 5 WBC types found in peripheral blood and explain the features that help to identify each of them.

Answer 11

a. Neutrophils
b. Eosinophils
c. Basophils
d. Lymphocytes
e. Monocytes

Add features

Question 12

What is the term used to indicate variation in RBC size?

Answer 12

Anisocytosis

Question 13

What general term indicates variation in RBC shape?

Answer 13

Poikilocytosis

Question 14

Provide 2 examples of specific terms for specific abnormal RBC shapes and describe the RBC shape for each term.

Answer 14

a. Elliptocytes
a. Thin elongated cigar shaped cells
b. Spherocytes
Loss of biconcave shape - sphere

Question 15

What is Polychromasia and what may it indicate?

Answer 15

It is a variation in colour of a RBC. It indicates an increased number of immature RBC’s

Question 16

What physiological processes do platelets have a role in?

Answer 16

Prevent and stop bleeding. Clotting the blood

Question 17

What does the term “Thrombocytopaenia” mean?

Answer 17

a. Decreased number of platelets

Question 18

What is the term for an increased number of Lymphocytes in the peripheral blood?

Answer 18

a. Lymphocytosis

Question 19

Either of 2 principles can be used in Automated Cell Counting machines. What are these 2 principles?

Answer 19

Automated or Manual

Question 20

What blood cells can be manually counted using a haemocytometer (counting chamber)?

Answer 20

a. White Blood cells
b. Red blood cells
c. Platelets

Question 21

Can a counting chamber also be used to count anything else besides blood cells?

Answer 21

a. Yes, bacterial cells in suspension

Question 22

Different areas of a counting chamber are used for counting different types of blood cells. What areas are used for a manual WCC

Answer 22

The corners of the counter separated by 1mm lines

Question 23

Explain why WBC types should always be reported as an Absolute number and not Relative numbers following a Diff.

Answer 23

a. Depending on the patients total white blood cell count the absolute number will change even when the relative number is the same. Therefore it is necessary to measure with absolute blood cell count.