Hematology Labs and Diagnostics

Question 1

The provider will order a _____, when they are interested in WBCs, RBCs & platelets - and the percentages of each WBC.

Answer 1

CBC with Diff (differential)

Question 2

What information is included in a CBC?

Answer 2

RBC count, hemoglobin and hematocrit, WBC count, and platelet count

Question 3

Name the white blood cell types and the corresponding percentage of each in a normal WBC count

Answer 3

Neutrophil (40-70%), lymphocyte (20-25%), monocyte (3-8%), eosinophil (2-4%), and basophil (<1%)

Question 4

An acute bacterial infection will show on a CBC with Diff with an increased percentage of ______ and a _____.

Answer 4

Neutrophils, shift to the left

Question 5

What is a shift to the left?

Answer 5

An abnormal increase in the number of bands compared to segs as seen on a CBC with differential of a patient with an acute bacterial infection.

Question 6

What is a seg?

Answer 6

A mature neutrophil (& is short for “segmented”)

Question 7

What is a band?

Answer 7

An immature neutrophil

Question 8

What is morphology?

Answer 8

the study of the color, size, and shape of a cell

Question 9

What is the mean corpuscle volume (MCV)?

Answer 9

the size of the cell

Question 10

Normocytic describes a . . .

Answer 10

normal sized cell

Question 11

Microcytic describes a . . .

Answer 11

small cell

Question 12

Macrocytic describes a . . .

Answer 12

large cell

Question 13

Microcytic red blood cells occur with _______

Answer 13

iron deficiency anemia

Question 14

Macrocytic red blood cells occur with _______

Answer 14

megaloblastic anemias such as those seen with B12 and folate deficiencies

Question 15

What is the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)?

Answer 15

a measure of the average amount of hemoglobin per red blood cell (hemoglobin concentration)

Question 16

What do you call red blood cells with a low hemoglobin concentration?

Answer 16

Hypochromic

Question 17

What do you call red blood cells with a normal hemoglobin concentration?

Answer 17

Normochromic

Question 18

What is hemoglobin?

Answer 18

Iron containing pigment of the red blood cell

Question 19

Normal hemoglobin values for males and females?

Answer 19

Male: 14-18 g/dL
Female: 12-16 g/dL

Question 20

The percentage of total blood volume made up by red blood cells is called ______

Answer 20

hematocrit

Question 21

What are the normal hematocrit levels for males and females?

Answer 21

Male: 42-52%
Female: 37-47%

Question 22

A low hematocrit is called

Answer 22

anemia

Question 23

A high hematocrit is called

Answer 23

polycythemia

Question 24

Which protein transports iron?

Answer 24

Serum transferrin

Question 25

Which protein stores iron?

Answer 25

Serum ferritin

Question 26

Which test is the most sensitive test used to determine iron deficiency anemia?

Answer 26

Serum ferritin

Question 27

Which two levels provide information about serum iron?

Answer 27

Serum transferrin and serum ferritin

Question 28

A positive antibody test to intrinsic factor (IF) confirms the presence of ______.

Answer 28

pernicious anemia

Question 29

Melena describes . . .

Answer 29

stool that is dark, tarry, and malodorous from the presence of digested blood.

Question 30

What is a Coombs test?

Answer 30

A serum blood test used to differentiate among types of hemolytic anemia

Question 31

Which type of Coombs test indicates whether the body is attacking its own RBCs?

Answer 31

Direct Coombs

Question 32

Which type of Coombs test is used to screen for antibodies prior to a blood transfusion?

Answer 32

Indirect Coombs

Question 33

What type of anemia may require a bone marrow biopsy?

Answer 33

Aplastic anemia

Question 34

Which site is ideal for finding the red bone marrow needed for a bone marrow biopsy?

Answer 34

the iliac crest