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Date: 02-08-2023
Time: 10:20AM
Topics Discusses: What is Medical Lab Technology, Difference between Treatment, Prognosis and Diagnosis, Role of Doctor or Physician and Medical Lab Technologist, Vital Signs, Significance of Vital Signs Assessment, Difference Between Signs and Symptoms in Patient Assessment, Example Case Study on Signs and Symptoms, Definition of Disease, Definition of Illness, Definition of Infection, Factors Contributing to Disease, Introduction to Factors Contributing to Disease, Types of Samples that Can be Collected from Patients for Clinical Diagnosis, Additional Types of Samples for Clinical Diagnosis.
What is Medical Lab Technology? Medical Lab Technology refers to the scientific procedures used in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, performed by trained professionals known as medical lab technologists. They work with laboratory equipment and use various techniques to analyze body fluids and tissues, conduct tests, and report findings to physicians. Their work forms the backbone of health diagnostics, aiding physicians in making accurate diagnoses and appropriate treatments.
Difference between Treatment, Prognosis, and Diagnosis
Diagnosis: This is the identification of a disease or condition. It involves analyzing a patient's symptoms, medical history, physical examination findings, and results from various diagnostic tests.
Prognosis: Once a diagnosis is made, the prognosis is the expected outcome or course of the disease. It may include predictions about the disease's progression, the patient's life expectancy, and the chances for recovery or recurrence.
Treatment: This refers to the methods used to cure or manage a disease. It can include a variety of strategies, such as medications, surgical interventions, lifestyle modifications, and therapeutic procedures.
Role of a Doctor or Physician
A doctor or physician diagnoses diseases and prescribes treatment based on their medical expertise. They interpret results from laboratory tests, make decisions regarding the appropriate care for patients, and provide advice on disease prevention and health maintenance. They also have the responsibility to communicate effectively with patients, explaining their health conditions and treatment options.
Role of a Medical Lab Technologist
Medical Lab Technologists carry out laboratory tests and procedures, which are critical for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. They work with various types of lab equipment, perform tests on samples like blood and tissue, and provide the resulting data to the physicians. Their role is crucial in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of these tests, which directly impact the diagnosis and treatment decisions made by physicians.
Remember, both doctors and medical lab technologists have important roles in patient care and they work together, often behind the scenes, to ensure the best outcomes for patients.
Vital Signs
Vital signs are measurements of the body's most basic functions. They are typically the first thing checked when a patient's health is assessed. The primary vital signs used in clinical settings are:
Body temperature: Normal body temperature can vary depending on the person, the time of day, and the weather, but it's usually around 98.6°F (37°C).
Pulse rate: This is the number of times a person's heart beats per minute. Normal resting heart rate for adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute.
Respiration rate: This is the number of breaths a person takes per minute. The normal respiration rate for an adult at rest is 12 to 20 breaths per minute.
Blood pressure: This is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. Normal blood pressure for adults is typically around 120/80 mmHg.
Significance of Vital Signs Assessment
Monitoring vital signs is crucial in patient assessment because they can provide essential information about the body's basic functions and indicate the presence of potential health issues. Changes or abnormal readings in vital signs can signal medical conditions like heart disease, lung disease, high or low blood pressure, fever, and many others. They can also provide information about a patient's response to treatment. Regular vital signs assessments are thus a crucial component of healthcare and disease management.
Difference between Signs and Symptoms with Examples
Signs: These are objective, observable indications of a disease or condition that can be seen, heard, measured, or felt by the healthcare provider. For example, a fever (as indicated by a high body temperature), rapid heart rate, abnormal respiration rate, and high blood pressure are all signs that a healthcare provider can objectively measure.
Symptoms: These are subjective indications of a disease or condition that are experienced and reported by the patient. They cannot be directly observed or measured by the healthcare provider. For example, symptoms can include pain, fatigue, nausea, headache, and dizziness.
So, in a practical example, if a patient reports feeling fatigued and having a headache (symptoms), a healthcare provider might then measure the patient's vital signs and find a high body temperature and rapid heart rate (signs), which could indicate a condition such as a systemic infection. The combination of symptoms and signs assists the healthcare provider in making a diagnosis.
Case Study:
Patient X, a 45-year-old man, presents to the emergency department reporting severe chest pain that started about an hour ago. The pain is described as a heavy pressure sensation and is also accompanied by shortness of breath. These are symptoms, as they are subjective experiences reported by the patient.
On examination, the medical team notes that the patient is sweating profusely and appears visibly anxious. His skin is cool and pale. These are signs, as they are observable by others.
His vital signs are recorded: heart rate is 110 beats per minute (normal: 60-100), blood pressure is 150/95 mmHg (normal: around 120/80 mmHg), respiratory rate is 22 breaths per minute (normal: 12-20), and body temperature is 98.6°F (37°C), which is normal. The elevated heart rate, increased blood pressure, and elevated respiratory rate are all signs of potential distress.
An electrocardiogram (ECG) shows ST-segment elevations, which is a sign of possible heart muscle damage due to insufficient blood supply.
Explanation:
In this case, the patient's symptoms (chest pain and shortness of breath) led him to seek medical help. The medical team then observed several signs (profuse sweating, cool and pale skin, elevated heart rate, high blood pressure, and ST-segment elevations on the ECG).
The combination of these symptoms and signs suggest that the patient may be experiencing a myocardial infarction (heart attack). This information helps guide the medical team to make a diagnosis and initiate appropriate treatment, which in this case would likely involve immediate interventions to restore blood flow to the heart muscle.
8. Disease: A disease is a particular abnormal condition, a disorder of a structure or function, that affects part or all of an organism. Diseases can be caused by various factors, including genetic mutation, injury, exposure to toxins, or pathogens like bacteria and viruses. Diseases typically have defined signs and symptoms, and they may be acute (short-term), chronic (long-term), or even lifelong.
9. Illness: Illness often refers to a person's perception of their health and how they're feeling, and it might not always line up with the medical definition of a disease. For example, a person might feel ill (tired, weak, nauseous), but medical tests might not reveal a specific disease. Conversely, a person could have a chronic disease like hypertension without feeling ill. It's also worth noting that "illness" often refers to the social and psychological effects of disease; how it affects a person's ability to go about their daily life.
10. Infection: An infection occurs when another organism (like bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites) enters the body and causes disease. These pathogens can invade and multiply within the host's body tissues, often causing an immune response that can lead to symptoms such as fever, fatigue, or specific symptoms depending on the area of the body affected. Not all infections result in diseases, as the body's immune system can often eliminate the invading organism before it causes significant damage.
11. Factors contributing to disease
Disease development in a patient is often the result of a complex interplay between multiple factors, and understanding these is essential for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. These factors can be broadly categorized into intrinsic factors, such as genetics and age, and extrinsic factors, which include lifestyle choices, environmental exposures, and social determinants of health.
Intrinsic Factors:
Genetics: Each individual inherits a unique set of genes from their parents, some of which may predispose them to certain diseases. For example, mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes significantly increase the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.
Age: The risk of many diseases increases with age, simply due to the increased wear and tear on the body and the gradual decline in the efficiency of the body's repair systems.
Extrinsic Factors:
Lifestyle Choices: Behaviors such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and unhealthy dietary habits can significantly increase the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer.
Infections: Exposure to various pathogens can lead to infectious diseases. In some cases, these can be prevented through strategies like vaccination or good hygiene practices.
Environmental Exposures: Exposure to pollutants, chemicals, radiation, or other harmful substances in the environment can contribute to the development of diseases, including various types of cancers and respiratory diseases.
Social Determinants of Health: Factors such as socioeconomic status, education, employment, social support, and access to healthcare can significantly influence health outcomes.
Lifestyle Factors: These can significantly influence the risk of developing various diseases. For example, physical inactivity, poor diet, and unhealthy habits like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can lead to chronic diseases such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and various cancers.
Infections: Infections caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi can lead to a wide range of diseases. From common colds to more serious conditions such as HIV/AIDS, pneumonia, and tuberculosis, these diseases can have significant impacts on health, particularly if left untreated.
Addictions: Substance abuse and addiction, whether it's to alcohol, drugs, or tobacco, can lead to a host of health problems. These include liver disease, lung disease, cardiovascular problems, and mental health disorders, among others.
Genetics: Certain diseases are influenced by our genetic makeup. Genes inherited from our parents can make us more susceptible to conditions like cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome, and Huntington's disease. Additionally, genetics can play a role in diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, where specific gene variants can increase disease risk.
Environmental Factors: Exposure to various environmental factors, such as pollutants, chemicals, radiation, and certain types of allergens, can contribute to diseases such as asthma, allergies, lung diseases, and various types of cancers.
Psychological Factors: Mental health plays a significant role in overall health. Chronic stress, depression, and anxiety can weaken the immune system, increase blood pressure, and contribute to conditions like heart disease and other physical problems. These mental health conditions are themselves recognized as significant health disorders.
Social Factors: The conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age are known as their social determinants of health. These can include factors like socioeconomic status, education, neighborhood and physical environment, employment, and social support networks. These factors have been shown to significantly influence health outcomes and risks for various diseases.
Food: What we eat plays a critical role in our health. Diets high in saturated fats, trans fats, sodium, and sugar can contribute to obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. On the other hand, diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats can promote good health and reduce disease risk.
Foreign Particles: Exposure to foreign particles, such as dust, asbestos, and certain chemicals, can lead to diseases. For example, inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause lung diseases, including asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Carcinogens: Carcinogens are substances that are known to cause cancer. They can lead to changes in cellular metabolism or DNA, leading to abnormal cell growth and cancer. Examples of carcinogens include tobacco smoke, ultraviolet radiation, asbestos, and certain chemicals and dyes.
Understanding these factors is crucial as it provides opportunities for prevention and early intervention to mitigate the risk of diseases. Many of these factors can be influenced by changes in individual behavior or policy interventions, making them key areas of focus for public health.
It's important to remember that these factors often interact in complex ways to influence disease risk. For example, a person with a genetic predisposition to a certain disease may never actually develop that disease unless they are also exposed to certain environmental or lifestyle triggers. Understanding these factors and how they interact is a key aspect of modern medicine and public health, and forms the basis for many disease prevention and health promotion strategies.
Samples for diagnosis
a wide variety of samples can be collected from patients for clinical diagnosis, each providing different types of information about the patient's health status. Here's a summary of the main types:
Blood: This is one of the most common types of samples collected. Blood tests can provide a wealth of information about the body's functioning, including levels of various chemicals, blood cells, and markers of inflammation. They can be used to check for conditions like anemia, infections, diabetes, kidney disease, and many other disorders.
Urine: Urine tests are often used to detect and assess a variety of diseases and conditions, such as urinary tract infections, kidney disease, diabetes, and liver disease. They can also be used to monitor the effectiveness of certain treatments.
Stool: Stool samples can be used to detect a range of digestive tract diseases, including parasitic infections, bacterial infections, and conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease. They can also be used in screening for colorectal cancer.
Saliva: Saliva testing is used for a variety of purposes. It can detect hormone levels, genetic material, antibodies, and substances such as alcohol and drugs. It is often used in research and, increasingly, in clinical diagnosis.
Sputum: Sputum, the substance that comes up from the respiratory tract during coughing, can be used to detect and diagnose lower respiratory tract infections, including tuberculosis and pneumonia, as well as lung cancer.
Tissue Biopsies: These involve taking a small sample of tissue from the body to examine under a microscope. They can be used to diagnose many conditions, especially cancers, and to test for certain infections and other diseases.
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF): CSF is the fluid found in your brain and spine. A sample, collected through a lumbar puncture, can be used to diagnose conditions such as meningitis, multiple sclerosis, and cancers of the brain or spine.
Genetic Material: DNA samples can be collected from blood, saliva, or other tissues to test for genetic diseases or susceptibilities, or to determine biological relationships in genetic testing.
Sweat: Sweat testing is most often used to diagnose cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that affects the lungs and digestive system.
Semen: Semen samples can be analyzed in the laboratory to evaluate male fertility. They are typically used to measure the amount of semen produced, the number of sperm present, their shapes (morphology), and their ability to move (motility).
Pericardial Fluid: This is the fluid found in the pericardial sac around the heart. Abnormalities in pericardial fluid can help diagnose conditions such as pericarditis, cardiac tamponade, and malignancy.
Synovial Fluid: This fluid is found in the cavities of synovial joints (like the knee). Analysis of synovial fluid can help diagnose gout, arthritis, and infections within the joint.
Peritoneal Fluid: Also known as ascitic fluid, this is the fluid in the abdominal cavity. Changes in the amount of this fluid or its composition can be indicative of conditions such as liver disease (especially cirrhosis), certain cancers, and heart failure.
Amniotic Fluid: This is the fluid that surrounds a fetus during pregnancy. An amniocentesis is a procedure where a small amount of this fluid is sampled and tested to diagnose chromosomal abnormalities and fetal infections, among other conditions.
Aqueous Humor: This is the clear fluid in the front of the eye, between the lens and the cornea. It is rarely collected, but when it is, it can help diagnose glaucoma, intraocular infections, and other eye conditions.
Pleural Fluid: This is the fluid found between the layers of the pleura, the membranes surrounding the lungs. If an excess of this fluid is produced (a condition known as pleural effusion), it can be collected and analyzed to help diagnose conditions such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, lung cancer, and heart failure.
Nasal and Throat Swabs: Swabs from the nose or throat are commonly used to test for respiratory infections, such as influenza, COVID-19, or strep throat.
Mucus Secretions: Mucus can be collected from various parts of the body (such as the lungs, nose, or throat) to test for infections, allergies, and other conditions. For example, a sputum sample (mucus from the lungs) can be tested for tuberculosis or other lung diseases.
Wound Swabs: If a patient has a wound that is not healing as expected, a swab may be taken to test for bacterial or fungal infections.
Date: 07-08-2023
Applications of Hematology
1. Applications in the Blood Bank:
Hematology plays a significant role in blood banks. Here are some of the applications:
Blood Typing and Crossmatching: This process involves determining the blood type of a potential donor and checking compatibility with the recipient. It prevents transfusion reactions, which can be life-threatening. The basic tests involve ABO and RhD typing.
Screening for Transfusion Transmissible Infections: Blood banks use hematological tests to screen donated blood for infections such as HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, and malaria, among others. This helps in ensuring that the donated blood is safe for transfusion.
Detection of Hemoglobinopathies and Blood Disorders: Some blood banks screen for hemoglobin disorders, such as sickle cell disease and thalassemia. This is important as these disorders can affect the quality of the donated blood.
Immunohematology: This area deals with the study of the immune system's reactions to blood transfusions. The understanding of immunohematology is vital for managing blood products, preventing transfusion reactions, and treating conditions such as hemolytic disease of the newborn.
2. Basic Hematology Applications:
In basic hematology, blood and blood components are studied to detect abnormalities and diagnose conditions. Here are some of the main applications:
Complete Blood Count (CBC): This is a basic test that quantifies various components of the blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. It helps to diagnose a variety of conditions from anemia to infections and leukemia.
Blood Films and Bone Marrow Examination: These tests help in identifying abnormalities in blood cells, which may indicate blood cancers or other disorders.
Hemoglobinopathies and Thalassemias: Hematological tests can detect inherited conditions like sickle cell disease and thalassemia. Early detection can lead to better management of these conditions.
Evaluation of Anemia and Polycythemia: Hematology is crucial in diagnosing and managing different types of anemia (low red blood cell count) and polycythemia (high red blood cell count). It helps identify the underlying cause, whether it's nutritional deficiency, bone marrow disease, or a genetic disorder.
3. Applications in Bleeding Disorders:
Hematology is integral to the diagnosis and management of bleeding disorders. Here's how it is applied:
Coagulation Tests: These include tests like Prothrombin Time (PT), International Normalized Ratio (INR), and Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT). They measure how well the blood is clotting and can detect clotting disorders like hemophilia and von Willebrand disease.
Platelet Function Tests: These tests assess how well the platelets are working. They're used in diagnosing platelet disorders that can lead to excessive bleeding.
Factor Assays: These specialized tests can identify specific clotting factor deficiencies in disorders like hemophilia.
Fibrinolysis Assessment: These tests can help diagnose conditions associated with abnormal clot dissolution, such as disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).
4. Applications in Neonatal Hematology:
The study and practice of hematology in newborns (neonatal hematology) involve diagnosing and managing blood disorders unique to this period. Here are some applications:
Neonatal Jaundice: Hematology helps in diagnosing and managing this common condition in newborns caused by high levels of bilirubin, a by-product of red blood cell breakdown.
Neonatal Anemia: Hematological tests can identify anemia in newborns, which can be due to various reasons, including rapid growth, nutritional deficiencies, or hemolytic disease of the newborn.
Polycythemia and Thrombocytopenia: These conditions, characterized by high and low blood cell counts, respectively, can be detected and managed with the help of hematology.
Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn (HDN): This condition, often due to Rh incompatibility between the mother and the baby, can be diagnosed and managed using hematological methods.
Hematology has a broad range of applications and is a fundamental pillar in clinical diagnosis and management of diseases. The field continues to evolve with advancements in medical technology and molecular biology, leading to more precise diagnostics and tailored treatment strategies for various blood disorders.
Properties of Whole Blood
1. Components of Whole Blood:
Whole blood is made up of several components, each with specific properties:
Red Blood Cells (RBCs): Also known as erythrocytes, they make up about 40-45% of the blood volume. RBCs are responsible for carrying oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body, and they give blood its red color.
White Blood Cells (WBCs): These are the soldiers of the body, defending it against infections and diseases. They form about 1% of the blood volume and are less in number compared to RBCs.
Platelets: Also known as thrombocytes, they play a vital role in blood clotting, a process that prevents excessive bleeding when a blood vessel is damaged.
Plasma: This is the liquid component of blood and makes up about 55% of the blood volume. It's mostly water (about 92%) but also contains proteins, hormones, minerals, and various waste products.
2. Physical Properties of Whole Blood:
Color: The color of whole blood is typically bright red in arterial blood (oxygen-rich) and dark red in venous blood (oxygen-poor).
Volume: The total blood volume in a healthy adult human is about 5 liters, roughly 7-8% of the total body weight.
Viscosity: Blood is about 4.5-5.5 times as viscous as water. This property is crucial for its circulation through blood vessels and the exchange of nutrients, gases, and waste products.
pH: The pH of blood is tightly regulated to stay within the range of 7.35 to 7.45, making it slightly basic. This is essential to maintain homeostasis and proper metabolic function.
Temperature: The temperature of blood usually slightly higher than the body's external temperature, averaging at about 37.5°C or 99.5°F.
3. Functional Properties of Whole Blood:
Transportation: Blood transports various substances necessary for bodily functions, including oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and waste products. It also carries heat and helps regulate body temperature.
Protection: The WBCs in the blood protect the body from infections and diseases. Platelets and plasma proteins play crucial roles in coagulation, helping the body to prevent excessive bleeding.
Regulation: Blood helps in maintaining the pH and ion composition of interstitial fluids, preventing the potentially harmful effects of biochemical fluctuations. It also helps regulate body temperature by redistributing heat.
4. Compatibility and Typing:
Blood is categorized into various types based on the presence or absence of antigens on the surface of red blood cells. There are four primary blood types: A, B, AB, and O, and each can be RhD positive or negative. Knowledge of these types is crucial for safe blood transfusions.
In summary, whole blood has several crucial properties and functions, including transporting nutrients and oxygen, protecting against infections, regulating body functions, and more. Understanding these properties helps medical professionals diagnose and treat numerous health conditions.
Properties of Red Blood Cells
Red Blood Cells (RBCs), also known as erythrocytes, are the most abundant type of cell in the human blood. They serve as the primary carrier of oxygen from the lungs to all the tissues in the body and then transport carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs. Here are the key properties of RBCs:
1. Shape and Size:
Biconcave Discs: RBCs are shaped like biconcave discs—flattened discs with a depressed center on both sides. This unique shape provides a larger surface area for gas exchange relative to their volume.
Size: The average diameter of a human RBC is approximately 6-8 micrometers. The typical thickness is 2 micrometers at the edges and 1 micrometer or less in the center.
2. Structure:
No Nucleus: Mature RBCs in mammals lack a nucleus, which allows more room to carry hemoglobin, the molecule that binds to oxygen and carbon dioxide. This absence of a nucleus also means that RBCs can't repair themselves or reproduce.
Hemoglobin: RBCs are packed with hemoglobin, a complex protein that gives blood its red color and is responsible for the transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Membrane: The RBC membrane is a lipid bilayer, like all cells, but also contains unique proteins and glycoproteins. This membrane is flexible, allowing RBCs to change shape as they navigate through narrow capillaries.
3. Life Cycle:
Lifespan: RBCs have a lifespan of about 120 days. The liver and spleen remove aging RBCs from circulation.
Production and Destruction: New RBCs are produced in the bone marrow through a process called erythropoiesis, which is stimulated by the hormone erythropoietin (EPO). Old, damaged, or abnormal RBCs are broken down by the spleen.
4. Function:
Oxygen Transport: The primary function of RBCs is to transport oxygen from the lungs to the tissues. Each RBC carries millions of hemoglobin molecules, and each hemoglobin molecule can bind up to four oxygen molecules.
Carbon Dioxide Transport: RBCs also help transport carbon dioxide, a waste product of cellular respiration, from the tissues to the lungs, where it is exhaled.
5. Variability and Disorders:
Variability: The size, shape, and hemoglobin content of RBCs can vary, and such variability may be indicative of various medical conditions. For example, a larger than normal size (macrocytosis) can occur in conditions like vitamin B12 deficiency, and a smaller size (microcytosis) can occur in conditions like iron deficiency anemia.
Disorders: There are several disorders associated with RBCs, including anemia (low RBC count or low hemoglobin), polycythemia (high RBC count), and sickle cell disease (a genetic disorder that affects the shape and function of the RBCs).
In summary, RBCs are crucial components of the blood, playing an essential role in gas transport and exchange, contributing to the body's overall homeostasis. Any deviations from their normal properties can have significant implications on human health.
Date: 08-08-2023
Properties of White Blood Cells (WBCs)
White blood cells, also known as leukocytes, play a pivotal role in the immune system, helping the body to fight off infections. They are larger than red blood cells and are made in the bone marrow.
1. Types of White Blood Cells:
There are five main types of WBCs, which can be grouped into granulocytes and agranulocytes based on their cytoplasmic granule appearance under the microscope.
Granulocytes:
Neutrophils: These are the most common WBCs and are the first to respond to an infection. They target and kill bacteria and fungi.
Eosinophils: They target and kill parasites and cancer cells, and help with allergic responses.
Basophils: Least common WBCs. They release histamine and are involved in allergic reactions.
Agranulocytes:
Lymphocytes: These play a key role in the immune system. There are two main types:
B cells: Produce antibodies.
T cells: Attack viruses and tumors.
Monocytes: These become macrophages in tissues and phagocytize pathogens and dead cells.
2. Leukopoiesis:
Leukopoiesis is the process of WBC formation. Hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow differentiate into either myeloid or lymphoid stem cells, which then differentiate into various types of WBCs.
3. WBC Count:
A WBC count measures the number of white blood cells in the blood. The normal range varies but is generally between 4,000 and 11,000 cells per microliter of blood.
4. Clinical Significance:
Leukocytosis: Elevated WBC count, can be indicative of an infection, inflammation, leukemia, or other conditions.
Leukopenia: Reduced WBC count, can increase the risk of infections. It may be caused by bone marrow disorders, autoimmune diseases, or treatments like chemotherapy.
Differential Count: Measures the proportion of each type of white blood cell in your blood, providing additional information about possible illnesses.
5. Pathological Conditions:
Leukemia: A group of cancers that affect white blood cells, causing them to multiply uncontrollably.
Neutropenia: A condition characterized by low levels of neutrophils, increasing the risk of bacterial infections.
Lymphoma: Cancer that originates from lymphocytes.
Mononucleosis: A viral infection causing an increase in monocytes.
6. Functions of WBCs:
Phagocytosis: The process by which cells like neutrophils and macrophages ingest harmful particles, including bacteria.
Antibody Production: B cells produce antibodies that can latch onto pathogens and neutralize or mark them for destruction.
Cytotoxic Activity: Some T cells can kill virus-infected cells directly.
Hypersensitivity Reactions: In allergic reactions, eosinophils and basophils play a role by releasing substances that mediate inflammation.
7. Lab Techniques Related to WBCs:
WBC Count: Typically done using automated hematology analyzers.
Blood Smears: Can be stained and examined under the microscope to evaluate WBC morphology and to perform differential counts.
Flow Cytometry: Can be used to identify and classify white blood cells based on their surface markers.
Conclusion:
Understanding the intricacies of white blood cells is vital for medical lab technologists, as they often encounter various conditions that affect these cells. Familiarity with their types, functions, and related lab techniques will aid in the diagnosis and monitoring of many diseases.
Here's a table detailing the properties of various white blood cells:
White Blood Cell Type
Percentage of Total WBCs
Main Functions
Appearance/Morphology
Life Span
Clinical Significance
Neutrophils
50-70%
- Phagocytize bacteria and fungi<br>- Quick response to infection
Multilobed nucleus (2-5 lobes); pale cytoplasm with fine granules
Hours to few days
Increased in bacterial infections, burns
Lymphocytes
20-40%
- B cells: Produce antibodies<br>- T cells: Attack infected cells and tumor cells
Large, round nucleus; scant pale blue cytoplasm
Days to years (varies between B and T cells)
Increased in viral infections, lymphocytic leukemias
Monocytes
2-8%
- Become macrophages in tissues<br>- Phagocytosis
Large, kidney-shaped nucleus; blue-gray cytoplasm
Days (as monocytes), months (as macrophages)
Increased in chronic infections, monocytic leukemia
Eosinophils
1-4%
- Combat parasitic infections<br>- Modulate allergic and asthmatic responses
Bilobed nucleus; red-orange granules in cytoplasm
8-12 days
Increased in allergic reactions, parasitic infections
Basophils
0.5-1%
- Release histamine<br>- Involved in allergic responses
Bilobed nucleus; large blue-purple granules
Days to weeks
Increased in some types of leukemia, chronic inflammation