L13: Lab Investigation Of The Full Blood Count & WBC Disorders

Question 1

What is involved in an FBC?

Answer 1

→Hb: concentration of Haemoglobin
→Hct: Percentage of blood volume as RBC
→MCV: Average size of RBC
→MCH: Average haemoglobin content of RBC
→RDW: Range of deviation around RBC size
→Reticulocyte count
→Blood film

Question 2

What are the WBC results in FBC?

Answer 2

→Total WBC and differential
→Neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes,
basophils, eosinophils
→Platelet count and size

Question 3

What is polychromasisa?

Answer 3

→Polychromasia- bluish colour due to increased RNA

Question 4

What are abnormal cells of WBC?

Answer 4

→blasts,

→atypical lymphoid cells

Question 5

How is FBC processed?

Answer 5

→using optical scatter methods

Question 6

How is FBC presented?

Answer 6

→cytogram where population of cells are displayed in distinct cluster.

Question 7

What happens if the differentials are not displayed correctly?

Answer 7

→alerts operator to refer the sample for a blood smear to be examined

Question 8

What are the advantages of automated hematology analyzer?

Answer 8

→Efficient and cost effective
→Accuracy and precision of quantitative blood test

→Ability to perform multiple test on single platform

→Reduced labour requirements

→Invaluable for accurate determination of red cell indices; e.g. MCV

Question 9

What are the disadvantages of automated hematology analyzer?

Answer 9

→Flagging of laboratory test results demand labour intensive manual examination of blood smear
→Comments on red cell morphology cannot be generated.

→Platelet clumps are counted at single, so low count.

→Expensive with high running cost

Question 10

What are the morphological features of macrocytic megaloblastic anaemia?

Answer 10

→Large RBC, different shapes
→Increased Hb
→Vit B12 deficiency as a result of IF because removal of stomach.

Question 11

What are the morphological features of acquired haemolytic anaemia?

Answer 11

→No bioconcave
→Increased RNA due to increased haemolysis
→polychromasia
→spherocytes

Question 12

What is present in SCA blood film?

Answer 12

→Target cells

Question 13

What are the morphological features seen in myelofibrosis?

Answer 13

→Tear drop poikilocytosis

Question 14

What are the morphological features of neutrophil leucocytosis?

Answer 14

→Increased neutrophils
→RBC are smaller and paler
→Prickle cells present
→Microcytic hyperchromic

Question 15

What are the morphological features of acute myeloblastic leukaemia?

Answer 15

→Immature myeoloids present

→Cant see any platelets

Question 16

What is an unusual way of diagnosing acute leukameia?

Answer 16

→centrifuging

→Increased WBC

Question 17

What are the morphological features for chronic granulocytic leukaemia?

Answer 17

→all stages of cell maturation represented
→Blasts present, myelocytes, BAND neutrophils
→RBC are hyperchromic

Question 18

What is involved in testing for malaria antigen?

Answer 18

→horse radish peroxidase tests for plasmodium faliciforum