Hematology Test

Hematology involves the study of the blood, in particular how blood can affect overall
health or disease. Hematology tests include tests on the blood, blood proteins and
blood-producing organs.

These tests can evaluate a variety of blood conditions including infection, anemia,
inflammation, hemophilia, blood-clotting disorders, leukemia and the body’s response
to chemotherapy treatments.

White Blood Cells (WBC)

White blood cells are responsible for assisting the body’s defenses in fighting illnesses
and disease. Knowing how many white cells are within the blood can prove invaluable
for diagnosing and treating a range of conditions. Increased white blood cells are
common in people fighting infection or suffering from anemia.

Red Blood Cells (RBC)

The number of red blood cells in the body can increase through dehydration, stress and
anxiety, or failure of the bone marrow, to name a few conditions. Decreased blood
cells can be the result of receiving chemotherapy treatments, chronic inflammatory
diseases, blood loss and some types of cancer.

Hemoglobin

Without hemoglobin, oxygen would not be able to travel around the body. This oxygen-
rich protein is essential to life, but it can increase or decrease due to a number of
conditions. Dehydration, congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease can all cause an increase in hemoglobin levels, while blood loss, anemia, liver
disease and lymphoma can result in a decrease.

Hematocrit and Platelets

Hematocrit, or HCT as it is commonly known in medical circles, is the ratio of plasma to

red blood cells. Plasma accounts for the fluid component in blood. HCT testing is usually
carried out when hydration levels and anemia are suspected of causing problems. HCT
levels can be affected in the same way as hemoglobin levels.

Neutrophils

Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell (WBC or granulocyte) that, among other
things, protect you from infection. A high neutrophil count may be due to infections,
a leukemia cancer, or physical or emotional stress. Low neutrophil levels,
or neutropenia, also may be a sign of leukemia, some types of infection, vitamin B12
deficiency, chemotherapy, and more.

Lymphocytes

Consist of T cells, natural killer cells and B cells to protect against viral infections and
produce proteins to help fight infection (antibodies). Lymphocyte counts above the
normal range can be a harmless and temporary situation, due to the body’s normal
response to an infection or inflammatory condition. A high level of lymphocytes can
also be a sign of lymphocytosis, which may indicate a more serious condition.
Monocytes

Defend against infection by cleaning up damaged cells. A high monocyte count —

also called monocytosis — is often associated with chronic or sub-acute infections. It
can also be linked with some types of cancer, especially leukemia. A high monocyte
count can occur when someone is recovering from an acute infection. Having low
levels of monocytes may mean the body is more susceptible to infection

Eosinophils

Identify and destroy parasites, cancer cells and assists basophils with your allergic
response. An increased percentage of eosinophils in your blood can indicate
eosinophilia, which can be caused by allergic disorders, parasites, tumors, or
gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, an allergic reaction, skin inflammation, such as eczema or
dermatitis, a parasitic infection, an inflammatory disorder, such as inflammatory bowel
disease or celiac disease or certain cancers.

Basophils

Produces an allergic response like coughing, sneezing or a runny nose. An increased

percentage of basophils in your blood might be caused by a serious food allergy,
inflammation and leukemia.

Urinalysis

A urinalysis is a group of manual and/or automated qualitative and semi-quantitative

tests performed on a urine sample. A routine urinalysis usually includes the following
tests: color, transparency, specific gravity, pH, protein, glucose, ketones, blood, bilirubin,
nitrite, urobilinogen, and leukocyte esterase. Some laboratories include a microscopic
examination of urinary sediment with all routine urinalysis tests. If not, it is customary to
perform the microscopic exam, if transparency, glucose, protein, blood, nitrite, or
leukocyte esterase is abnormal.

Visual Exam

For the visual exam, the urine will be examined for its color and clarity. Dark urine,
abnormal colors, blood in urine, cloudy urine, or foamy urine can indicate kidney
problems, dehydration, or other medical problems. Normal urine should range in color
from clear to dark yellow.

Transparency

Normal urine is transparent. Cloudy or turbid urine may be caused by both normal or
abnormal processes. Normal conditions giving rise to turbid urine include precipitation
of crystals (usually urates or phosphates), mucus, or vaginal discharge. Abnormal
causes of turbidity include the presence of blood cells, yeast, and bacteria. Turbidity is
typically graded by visual comparison to standard solutions of barium sulfate.

pH

A urine pH test measures the acid-base (pH) level in the urine. A neutral pH is 7.0. The
average urine sample tests at about 6.0, but typical urine pH may range from 4.5–8.0.
The higher the number, the more basic the urine is. The lower the number, the more
acidic the urine is. A high urine pH may indicate conditions including kidney issues and
a urinary tract infection (UTI). A low urine pH may indicate conditions
including diabetes-related ketoacidosis and diarrhea.
Specific gravity.

The specific gravity of urine is a measure of the concentration of dissolved solutes, and
it reflects the ability of the renal tubules to concentrate the urine (conserve water). It is
usually measured by determining the refractive index of a urine sample (refractometry)
or by chemical analysis. Specific gravity varies with fluid and solute intake. It will be
increased (above 1.035) in persons with diabetes mellitus and persons taking large
amounts of medication. It will also be increased after radiologic studies of the kidney
owing to the excretion of x-ray contrast dye. Consistently low specific gravity (1.003 or
less) is seen in persons with diabetes insipidus.

Sugar

The amount of sugar (glucose) in urine is typically too low to be detected. Any
detection of sugar on this test usually calls for follow-up testing for diabetes.

Albumin

Albumin is a protein in the blood. It helps keep the correct balance of fluid between the
blood vessels and the body tissues they supply. The kidneys filters blood to remove
waste products. Ideally, the waste products end up in your urine, and albumin and
other proteins stay in your blood vessels. So if albumin shows up in the urine, it may be a
sign of kidney damage.