Introduction Flashcards
Process of blood cell production and where it occurs?
Haemopoiesis in the bone marrow
Where are mature blood cells released?
Into the peripheral blood
What is the purpose of a haematology lab?
Diagnosis & monitoring of diseases in the blood & blood forming organs & Screening of haematological parameters undergoing surgery
What are the 3 phases of blood cell production?
- Embryonic/Mesoblastic phase: occurs in the yolk sac (mesodermal tissue)
- Hepatosplenic/Foetal phase: occurs in liver & spleen
- Myeloid/Bone marrow/Adult phase: occurs in bone marrow
What do all blood cell originate from?
Haemopoietic stem cells
What does bone marrow look like using a H&E stain?
Pink=where blood cells are produces
White=fat cells
What are all the mature cells seen in a healthy blood film?
Erythrocytes, platelets, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, B lymphocytes, t lymphocytes, NK cells
What is haemoglobin?
~O2 carrier protein in RBC
~ Haem & globin (protein)
~Embryonic, foetal & adult haemoglobin
What are the haemotolgical tests?
~Blood counts
~Microscopic blood film & bone marrow examination
~Haemostasis studies - measures clotting ability - haemophilia - prothrombin time (extrinsic) activated partial thromboplastin time(intrinsic)
~Measure nutrient requirement - B12, Folate, iron - anaemia (quality & quantity of haemoglobin of RBC)
What is primary health care?
GP samples, initial screening tests if patient feels unwell
What is secondary health care?
Hospital referrals - screening & diagnosis of disease
What is tertiary health care?
Special centres & hospitals - University Hospitals & Transplantation
Haematological disorders
~Anaemia (abnormality in quantity or quality of haemoglobin)
~Leukaemia (malignancies primarily associated with WBSs)
~Thrombocytopenia - low platelet count
~Haemophilia A - deficiency in coagulation Factor VIII
What are the different phases of blood?
Cell phase = blood cells
Liquid phase = plasma
Erythrocytes
~haemoglobin - transports O2 from tissue to lungs
~10% of CO2 transported
~reference values for red cell indices
Leukocytes
~Fight infection & immune response
~Neutrophil, eosinophil, basophil, lymphocyte, monocyte
Platelets
~Thrombocytes
~Haemostasis
Plasma
~Water, nutrients, fatty acids, vitamins, hormones, metabolic waste
~Plasma proteins such as albumin (osmotic pressure) & immunoglobulins
~Salts (Na, K, Ca, Mg - chloride)
~Coagulation factors FVIII
Obtaining blood sample
Venepuncture - obtain blood sample from veins (inside of elbow joint) - skin is soft & veins close to the skin - Needles & syringes/ vacutainers
~Obtaining blood sample = phlebotomy
What is plasma?
Straw coloured fluid with coagulation factors
What is serum?
Straw coloured fluid remaining when blood clots
How much blood does an adult have?
5L - 40% is cells
What is in a blood clot?
RBC, WBC, platelets, & fibrin
What is buffy coat?
Contains WBC & platelets at interface of RBC & plasma after whole blood is centrifuged
What does in vitro mean?
What happens outside the body e.g. blood tube/test tube
What does in vivo mean?
What happens inside the body
What is a blood clot called in different environments?
Thrombus = in vivo
Clot = in vitro
What is plasma used for?
Measure parameters such as coagulation factors