This book includes information on, what enables both the haematologist and laboratory scientist to identify blood cell features, from the most common to the more obscure and provides essential information on methods of collection, blood film preparation and staining, together with the principles of manual and automated blood counts.

Table of Contents

• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• List of abbreviations
• 1 Blood sampling and blood film preparation and examination
• Obtaining a blood specimen
• Specimen mixing
• Making a blood film
• Fixation, staining and mounting
• Storage of slides
• Setting up and using a microscope
• Examining a blood film
• References
• 2 Performing a blood count
• Basic techniques
• Automated image analysis
• Automated blood cell counters
• Near-patient testing
• References
• 3 Morphology of blood cells
• Examining the blood film
• Erythrocytes
• Leucocytes
• Granulocytes
• Lymphocytes and plasma cells
• Cells of monocyte lineage
• Granulocyte precursors
• Leucoerythroblastic blood films
• The mast cell
• Disintegrated cells
• Platelets and circulating megakaryocytes
• Platelets
• Megakaryocytes
• Blood film in healthy subjects
• Non-haemopoietic cells
• Micro-organisms in blood films
• Further learning resources for blood film morphology
• References
• 4 Detecting erroneous blood counts
• The sources of errors in blood counts
• The detection of errors in automated blood counts
• Errors in automated WBC
• Errors in haemoglobin concentration and red cell indices
• Errors in platelet counts
• Errors in automated differential counts
• Errors in automated reticulocyte counts and other reticulocyte measurements
• References
• 5 Normal ranges
• Normal ranges for adults
• Normal ranges for neonates and fetuses
• Normal ranges in infants and children
• Normal ranges in pregnancy
• Normal ranges for platelet counts and other platelet variables
• Normal ranges for reticulocyte counts
• References
• 6 Quantitative changes in blood cells
• Polycythaemia
• Reticulocytosis
• Leucocytosis
• Lymphocytosis
• Monocytosis
• Plasmacytosis
• Thrombocytosis
• Anaemia
• Reticulocytopenia
• Leucopenia
• Neutropenia
• Eosinopenia
• Basopenia
• Monocytopenia
• Lymphocytopenia (lymphopenia)
• Thrombocytopenia
• Pancytopenia
• References
• 7 Important supplementary tests
• Cytochemical techniques
• Cytochemical stains used in the diagnosis and classification of leukaemias
• Flow cytometric immunophenotyping
• Immunocytochemistry
• Cytogenetic analysis
• Fluorescence in situ hybridisation
• Molecular genetic analysis
• Ultrastructural examination
• References
• 8 Disorders of red cells and platelets
• Disorders of red cells
• Hypochromic and microcytic anaemias and thalassaemias
• Congenital haemolytic anaemias
• Other defects of the erythrocyte membrane
• Acquired haemolytic anaemias
• Polycythaemia
• Disorders of platelets
• References
• 9 Disorders of white cells
• Reactive changes in white cells
• T-lineage lymphoproliferative disorders
• References