Blood tests: Difference between revisions
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===Full Blood Count (FBC)=== | ===Full Blood Count (FBC)=== | ||
This is common to do. It's pretty much your standard. Especially important to do in [[infection]], [[heart]] problems, [[surgery]] and [[anaemia]]. | This is common to do. It's pretty much your standard. Especially important to do in [[infection]], [[heart]] problems, [[surgery]] and [[anaemia]]. | ||
*'''White blood cell''' (WBC) tells you about of [[white blood cells]] per volume of blood. Normal is around 4-11x10. Low means [[immunosuppression]], high means [[infection]] or [[cancer]]. | *'''White blood cell''' (WBC) tells you about of [[white blood cells]] per volume of blood. Normal is around 4-11x10<sup>9</sup>/L. Low means [[immunosuppression]], high means [[infection]] or [[cancer]]. | ||
White blood cell | White blood cell differential looks at the types of white blood cells present: | ||
**'''Neutrophils''' (40-75%) (raised in [[bacteria|bacterial infection]]) | **'''Neutrophils''' (40-75%) (raised in [[bacteria|bacterial infection]]) | ||
**'''Lymphocytes''' (20-45%) (raised in [[viral]] or bacterial infection, and in [[haematological cancer]]) | **'''Lymphocytes''' (20-45%) (raised in [[viral]] or bacterial infection, and in [[haematological cancer]]) | ||
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**'''Basophils''' | **'''Basophils''' | ||
* '''Haemoglobin''' is the amount of Hb in the blood. Normal is around 13-18g/dL in men and 11.5-16g/dL in women. High means dehydration, [[haematological cancer|cancer]] or [[lung disease]]. Low is [[anaemia]]: check the page for causes. | * '''Haemoglobin''' is the amount of Hb in the blood. Normal is around 13-18g/dL in men and 11.5-16g/dL in women. High means dehydration, [[haematological cancer|cancer]] or [[lung disease]]. Low is [[anaemia]]: check the page for causes. | ||
* '''Platelet''' count is the number of platelets. Normal is around 150- | * '''Platelet''' count is the number of platelets. Normal is around 150-400x10<sup>9</sup>/L. Low points to [[cancer]], [[chemo]] or [[autoimmune]] problems, whilst high signifies [[haematological cancer]]. | ||
* '''Mean corpuscular volume''' (MCV) is | * '''Mean corpuscular volume''' (MCV) is average size of your red cells. Its raised in some [[anaemias]], and lowered in others. Visit the [[anaemia]] page for more. | ||
===Clotting (CLS)=== | ===Clotting (CLS)=== | ||
Revision as of 17:25, 8 December 2009
This fish is suffering from massive haematemesis which, one the one hand, is very bad news, but on the other hand, makes it very easy to do a blood test.
There are a lot of blood tests. Like, billions. We are going to tell you about the key ones.
Full Blood Count (FBC)
This is common to do. It's pretty much your standard. Especially important to do in infection, heart problems, surgery and anaemia.
- White blood cell (WBC) tells you about of white blood cells per volume of blood. Normal is around 4-11x109/L. Low means immunosuppression, high means infection or cancer.
White blood cell differential looks at the types of white blood cells present:
- Neutrophils (40-75%) (raised in bacterial infection)
- Lymphocytes (20-45%) (raised in viral or bacterial infection, and in haematological cancer)
- Monocytes
- Eosinophils
- Basophils
- Haemoglobin is the amount of Hb in the blood. Normal is around 13-18g/dL in men and 11.5-16g/dL in women. High means dehydration, cancer or lung disease. Low is anaemia: check the page for causes.
- Platelet count is the number of platelets. Normal is around 150-400x109/L. Low points to cancer, chemo or autoimmune problems, whilst high signifies haematological cancer.
- Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is average size of your red cells. Its raised in some anaemias, and lowered in others. Visit the anaemia page for more.