Hematology
The Hematology department provides a variety of testing on peripheral blood, bone marrow, and body fluids. This includes, but is not limited to, a complete blood count (CBC), reticulocyte count, sedimentation rate, bone marrow evaluation, and body fluid cell count with differential.
- CBC - Complete Blood Count gives results for the following components:
- RBC - The RBC is the most common blood cell and is important in delivering oxygen from the lungs to the tissues through the circulatory system.
- WBC - The WBC count indicates the number of white blood cells and is a valuable clue in the search for illness. WBCs are cells that respond to attacks on the body’s immune system.
- DIFF - Neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, basophils, and monocytes are five types of white blood cells and are important components of the immune system. These cells have established normal proportions to one another. A differential count of these different cells may be a valuable tool in diagnosis.
- HCT - The hematocrit is a measure of the percentage of whole blood (which includes red cells and plasma) that is made up of red blood cells.
- HGB - Hemoglobin is the protein molecule responsible for the transport of oxygen from the lungs to the tissue cells and transport of CO2 as a waste product from the tissue cells back to the lungs for removal.
- PLT - Platelets or thrombocytes are small cell fragments that circulate in the blood. They are very important in forming blood clots.
- Reticulocyte Count - A blood test that measures how fast red blood cells are made by the bone marrow and released into the blood.
- Sedimentation Rate - A blood test that measures how quickly red blood cells settle in the test tube in one hour. The more red cells in the bottom of the test tube in one hour, the higher the sedimentation rate. The sedimentation rate is done to find out if inflammation is present, check on prognoses of the disease and if treatment is working.
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