Laboratory Assessment of Blood Cells and Anemias

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the assessment of blood cells, laboratory techniques, and classifications and pathophysiology of anemias.

Erythrocytes

Red blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to the body.

Leukocytes

White blood cells involved in the body's immune response.

Platelets

Cell fragments that play a crucial role in blood clotting.

Manual Counts

Laboratory technique used when automated counts are insufficient due to low cell counts or quality issues.

Hemacytometer

A specialized counting chamber used for manually counting blood cells.

MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume)

A measure of the average volume of a red blood cell.

MCHC (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration)

A measure of the concentration of hemoglobin in a given volume of red blood cells.

Reticulocytes

Immature red blood cells that are typically released into the blood from the bone marrow.

Cyanmethemoglobin Method

A laboratory technique for measuring hemoglobin levels in blood samples.

Hypotonic Solution

A solution with a lower concentration of solutes compared to another solution, causing cells to swell.

Hematocrit

The proportion of blood volume that is occupied by red blood cells.

Anemia

A condition characterized by a decrease in hemoglobin or the number of red blood cells.

Pancytopenia

A reduction of red and white blood cells and platelets.

Hypochromic

Red blood cells that have a lower than normal hemoglobin content.

Macrocytic Anemia

Anemia characterized by larger than normal red blood cells, often due to vitamin B12 or folate deficiency.

Iron Deficiency Anemia

A type of anemia that occurs when the body lacks enough iron to produce hemoglobin.

Sickle Cell Disease

A genetic disorder that affects hemoglobin and leads to abnormal red blood cell shape.

Aplastic Anemia

A serious condition where the bone marrow fails to produce enough blood cells.

Chronic Blood Loss Anemia

Anemia resulting from long-term blood loss, such as heavy menstruation or gastrointestinal bleeding.

Bone Marrow Examination

A diagnostic procedure to assess the health of the bone marrow's ability to produce blood cells.

Diamond-Blackfan Anemia

A rare type of anemia typically characterized by reduced red blood cell production.

Serum Ferritin

A blood test that indicates the amount of stored iron in the body.

M:E Ratio

Myeloid to erythroid ratio used to assess the ratio of white to red blood cells in the bone marrow.

Hemoglobinopathies

Disorders resulting from abnormalities in the structure of hemoglobin.

Reticulocyte Count

A test that measures the number of young red blood cells in the blood to evaluate bone marrow function.