Diagnosis of Diseases in Hematology

Name of the Disease: Anaemia
Diagnosis in the Laboratory:
 The first test that is done for the laboratory diagnosis of the anaemia is the complete
blood count. This is a test that measures the complete blood profiling of an individual.
The test covers the red blood cell count, white blood cell count, platelet count and the
level of haemoglobin and haematocrit. The anaemia condition can be detected if the red
blood cell count is lower than usual. A low haemoglobin level and a low haematocrit
level also suggests anaemia. Red blood cells are the oxygen carrying cells, which is also
responsible for the red colour of the blood. The haemoglobins are the proteins present in
the red blood cells, who carry the oxygen. The test for determining the haematocrit level
is also a test for determining the level of red blood cells in the blood. It is actually a
measurement of the space taken up by the red blood cells in the entire blood.
There are also other diagnostic tests such as,
 The haemoglobin electrophoresis test, which is used for detecting different types of
haemoglobin in the blood.
 Reticulocyte count, which is the count of the young red blood cells or reticulocyte;
 The test for iron level in the body, which can be either ferritin test or serum iron test.
All of these diagnostic tests are used for the detection of anaemia in an individual.
Name of the Disease: Sickle Cell Anaemia
Diagnosis in the Laboratory:
Sickle cell anaemia is also a type of anaemia condition, where the body produces
some abnormal haemoglobin known as HbS.

DIAGNOSIS OF DISEASES IN HEMATOLOGY1
 Haemoglobin electrophoresis test is one of the main tests that detects the sickle cell
anaemia in an individual. The test is also known as sickle cell screening test.
 There is also haemoglobin solubility test that detects the haemoglobin S. The test
specifically detects the HbS by noticing its decreased solubility in a solution compared to
the other forms of haemoglobin after the addition of a specific agent to the solution.
 There is another laboratory screening test, which is used for the screening of the sickle
cell anaemia. It is known as sodium metabisulfite test.
 Genetic testing, complete blood count, iron level testing and the blood smear testing are
also used as the laboratory diagnostic tools to detect the sickle cell anaemia.
Name of the Disease: Iron Deficiency Anaemia
Diagnosis in the Laboratory:
The laboratory diagnosis of the iron deficiency anaemia involves testing the iron
levels in the body. The name of those tests are,
 The serum iron test;
 The ferritin test;
The iron is an important component for the function of haemoglobin proteins and thus in
turn for the red blood cells as well. Inside the human body, iron is found in two forms mainly.
The free iron, which can be detected from the serum and the ferritin, which is stored inside
the liver.
 A low level of iron causes a low level of haemoglobin and red blood cells as well. The
haematocrit level is also low in this disease condition. Thus the complete blood count test
can also detect the iron deficiency anaemia as a laboratory diagnostic tools.