Hematology
18 markers in this category
Basic Blood Count
A basic blood count measures three core values in your blood: hemoglobin, white blood cells and platelets. Together they say something about oxygen transport, immune defence and clotting.
Basophils
As one of the five types of white blood cell, basophils take part in allergic reactions, in which they release substances such as histamine.
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
A complete blood count tells you from one tube how many red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets your blood holds and how much haemoglobin you have.
Eosinophils
Eosinophils are white blood cells involved in allergic reactions and the defence against parasites. As part of your complete blood count, they can offer clues about allergies or asthma.
Erythrocytes (RBC)
An erythrocyte (red blood cell) count measures the number of red blood cells in your blood.
Hematocrit
Your hematocrit value says what percentage of your blood consists of red blood cells, the cells that carry oxygen around your body; the rest is fluid.
Hemoglobin
Hemoglobin monitoring is particularly valuable for seniors, as age-related changes can affect red blood cell production and iron metabolism.
Leukocyte Differential
According to the NVKC, neutrophils are white blood cells that are made in the bone marrow and are part of the immune system that protects the body against pathogens such as micro-organisms.
Leukocytes (WBC)
Leukocytes, your white blood cells, come from your bone marrow and protect your body against infection by attacking bacteria, fungi and viruses.
Lymphocytes
Lymphocytes are white blood cells central to your defence against viruses and to immune memory. As you get older, the make-up of immune defence can change.
MCH (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin)
According to Thuisarts, the body builds haemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in the red blood cells, with iron, vitamin B12 and folate.
MCHC (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration)
MCHC is the average concentration of haemoglobin inside your red blood cells.
MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume)
According to Thuisarts, vitamin B12 and folate, together with iron, are needed to make haemoglobin, the substance in red blood cells that takes oxygen from the lungs to the cells.
Monocytes
Your monocyte value tells you how many of these clean-up cells were travelling through your blood towards your tissue at the moment of the draw.
Neutrophils
Neutrophils are the most common white blood cells and your first defence against bacterial infections. As you get older, immune defence can gradually change.
Platelets (Thrombocytes)
The platelet count is simply how many platelets circulate per litre. On a weight-loss programme that number is worth watching.
RDW
RDW shows how much your red blood cells vary in size. Anaemia becomes more common as you get older and can go unnoticed for some time.
Reticulocytes
A reticulocyte count measures the number of young, immature red blood cells in your blood.