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Hematology parameters – an overview

CBC test is frequently requested by physicians to evaluate patients’ blood status. Traditionally, a laboratory technician uses a microscope to manually count the red blood cells (erythrocytes), platelets (thrombocytes), and the white blood cells (leukocytes). Today, this type of analysis is conducted using an automated cell counter. In addition to reporting the blood cell counts, an automated hematology analyzer determines a range of other parameters.
However, abnormal cell variants and morphologies can be difficult for a hematology analyzer to distinguish from normal cell populations. Blood smear analysis therefore remains an important diagnostic tool to identify such cells. Typically, you let the analyzer do the actual cell count. Samples that are flagged as suspicious by the analyzer are further examined under the microscope at the same time as the presence of immature or abnormal cells is investigated. For an overview of hematology parameters, download poster.

Introduction to hematology analysis

A hematology analysis is usually the first test requested by a physician to evaluate a patient’s health status, and automated hematology analyzers are frequently used by clinical laboratories in general health screenings.

Manual microscopy procedure

Automated hematology analyzers constitute quick and effective screening tools to monitor the overall blood status of a patient. However, such instruments do not identify all morphologically abnormal cell forms. Instead, the analyzers indicate cell abnormalities through system messages, so called parameter flags. In such cases, a manual examination of the sample by a microscopic morphological count is recommended.

Hematology testing in blood banking and transfusion applications

A blood transfusion can in many cases be the only therapy available to treat an acute or chronic health condition. To ensure transfusion safety, blood banks and transfusion centers undertake certain measures.

Ensure reliability and cost-efficiency in decentralized diagnostic testing

With today’s customer-centric approach to healthcare, near-patient testing is growing rapidly. In such clinical settings, capillary samples are typically used. To meet this need, Boule Swelab Alfa Plus and Medonic M32 hematology analyzers are equipped with a micro-pipette adapter (MPA) inlet.

 

3-part versus 5-part hematology systems

A complete blood count (CBC) is typically the first test requested by a physician to evaluate a patient’s general health status. For such screenings, automated hematology analyzes are frequently used. In addition to determine blood levels of platelets (PLT), red blood cells (RBC), and white blood cells (WBC), most analyzer can also differentiate WBCs into 3 (LYM, MID, GRAN) or 5 (LYM, MONO, NEU, EOS, BASO) subpopulations. Although a so called 3-part hematology analyzer provides sufficient information for most clinical settings, trends show an increased interest in 5-part instruments. While 5-part analyzers can offer more detailed information on the white blood cells, 3-part instruments can offer great cost benefits.

Hematology parameters – an overview

CBC test is frequently requested by physicians to evaluate patients’ blood status. Traditionally, a laboratory technician uses a microscope to manually count the red blood cells (erythrocytes), platelets (thrombocytes), and the white blood cells (leukocytes). Today, this type of analysis is conducted using an automated cell counter. In addition to reporting the blood cell counts, an automated hematology analyzer determines a range of other parameters.
However, abnormal cell variants and morphologies can be difficult for a hematology analyzer to distinguish from normal cell populations. Blood smear analysis therefore remains an important diagnostic tool to identify such cells. Typically, you let the analyzer do the actual cell count. Samples that are flagged as suspicious by the analyzer are further examined under the microscope at the same time as the presence of immature or abnormal cells is investigated. For an overview of hematology parameters, download poster.

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