L12 - Full Blood Count and White cell Disorders

Question 1

What is included in a FBC (full blood count)?

Answer 1

• Hb = concentration of Hb
• Hct = percentage of blood volume as RBC

MCV = mean cell volume, the average size of RBC

• MCH = Mean corpuscular Haemoglobin, the average amount of Hb in RBCs
• RDW = red cell distribution width, the range of ditribution around RBC size
• Reticulocyte count
• Blood film
• Total White blood cells (neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils, eosinphils)
• Platelet count and size

Question 2

What does a blood film show?

Answer 2

it confirms the numbers of cells and looks at the morphology.

Question 3

What does a blood film for red blood cells detect?

Answer 3

• size (big, small, anisocytosis)
• Colour (Hb content)
• Shape (round, TDP, irregular, elliptocytes, poikylocytosis)
• polychromasia (when there is blue colour in cytoplasm due to increased RNA)
• inclusions (check for any other structures that shouldn’t be there)

Question 4

What does a blood film for white blood cells detect?

Answer 4

• numbers
• Normal morphology (dysplastic features)
• immature cells (myelocytes, precursors)
• abnormal cells (blasts, stypical lymphoid cells)
• inclusions (check for any other structures that shouldn’t be there)