What can you see in haematology blood testing?

Haematology blood testing can provide information about:

- Red blood cell count: The number of red blood cells per unit volume of blood. A low red blood cell count can indicate anemia, while a high red blood cell count can indicate polycythemia.

- Hemoglobin: The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. A low hemoglobin level can indicate anemia, while a high hemoglobin level can indicate polycythemia.

- Hematocrit: The percentage of blood that is made up of red blood cells. A low hematocrit can indicate anemia, while a high hematocrit can indicate polycythemia.

- Mean corpuscular volume: The average size of red blood cells. A low mean corpuscular volume can indicate microcytic anemia, while a high mean corpuscular volume can indicate macrocytic anemia.

- Mean corpuscular hemoglobin: The average amount of hemoglobin in red blood cells. A low mean corpuscular hemoglobin can indicate hypochromic anemia, while a high mean corpuscular hemoglobin can indicate hyperchromic anemia.

- Red blood cell distribution width: A measure of the variation in the size of red blood cells. A high red blood cell distribution width can indicate anisocytosis, which can be caused by a variety of conditions, including iron deficiency anemia and sickle cell disease.

- White blood cell count: The number of white blood cells per unit volume of blood. A low white blood cell count can indicate leukopenia, while a high white blood cell count can indicate leukocytosis.

- Differential: A breakdown of the different types of white blood cells, including neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. A high proportion of neutrophils can indicate an infection, while a high proportion of lymphocytes can indicate a viral infection or leukemia.

- Platelet count: The number of platelets per unit volume of blood. A low platelet count can indicate thrombocytopenia, while a high platelet count can indicate thrombocytosis.