Hematological analysis is a study that is most often prescribed by a doctor at primary
examination of the patient. The simplest and easiest way to find out about problems in the body and understand which way to go next is to donate blood for hematology. This can be done in all municipal polyclinics, hospitals and paid medical centers, without exception.
What information can I get?
Hematological analysis is a description of its most important components, giving an idea of โโthe presence of inflammatory and oncological processes.
During the analysis, all the cells that make up the blood are studied, their size, weight, quantity and percentage are determined. In addition, hemoglobin levels, hematocrit and erythrocyte sedimentation rate are measured.
Such a blood test is performed on a hematological analyzer.
With the help of the results of the study, the doctor can understand whether treatment is effectively selected for the patient, whether its correction is necessary, and if necessary, what exactly needs to be changed.
The main blood cells and their functions
What does hematological analysis reveal?
In total, the studied cell types 3 - platelets, red blood cells and white blood cells. All of them have their purpose and carry out certain activities.
White blood cells
White blood cells are the main blood defenders, fighting penetrating harmful microorganisms. These are round white blood cells with their own nucleus. The centers of their reproduction are special nodes called lymph nodes. They serve as the main barriers to protection against hazardous particles.
If for some reason the number or quality of white blood cells drops, then the nodes swell, allowing the infection to spread through them. Immunity drops, and immune responses slow down.
The normal white blood cell count should be 4.5-11 thousand / ฮผl. This includes their varieties.
Neutrophils
Neutrophils, the share of which occupies over 72% of all types of white blood cells. These small cells are located mainly in the tissues of the human body, their share in the blood is negligible. This arrangement is due to the fact that neutrophils must first of all find a place infected with pathogenic bacteria and neutralize them.
An increase in their number is promoted by bacterial or fungal infections, inflammatory processes, the occurrence of neoplasms, bleeding, tissue damage, and some medications. A decrease is observed upon receipt of the virus, the dose of radiation.
Eosinophils
Eosinophils remove toxic substances and their decomposition products from the body. It depends on them how well wound healing and regeneration of damaged tissues will proceed, as well as resistance to allergens.
The norm in adults is from 1 to 5% in the leukocyte formula. An increase in eosinophils is recorded for various allergic reactions, helminthic invasion, the growth of malignant tumors, cirrhosis of the liver and gastrointestinal ulcers.
A feature of these cells is that their increase in infectious diseases indicates the beginning of the patient's recovery. The number of eosinophils decreases with the general exhaustion of the body, frequent stresses, lack of sleep, postoperative period.
Basophils
Basophils represent the smallest group of white blood cells, they are slightly less than 1% of the total, but they are the largest. Thanks to these cells, many allergens and poisonous particles, for example, after an insect bite, cannot be activated in the body.
High basophils can be triggered by a violation of the level of thyroid hormones, colitis with peptic ulcer, lack of iron. Their level falls during pregnancy, the days when ovulation occurs, in the presence of worms.
These indicators are also revealed by hematological analysis.
Monocytes
Monocytes are a type of oval white blood cells with a homogeneous structure. Their norm for an adult is 3-11%. This is a kind of cleaners that remove old cells and destroy foreign particles that enter the body, as well as destroy antigen-antibody bundles.
An increase in the number of monocytes was noted during the course of severe infectious diseases, a decrease - with anemia of various etiologies. If monocytes are almost not found, we can assume the presence of such complex pathologies as leukemia or sepsis.
Lymphocytes
Lymphocytes, responsible for maintaining immunity at the proper level, can exist for more than 10 years, carrying immune memory. That is why many diseases can be ill only once in a lifetime. Their blood contains about 19-37%.
With the help of lymphocytes, mutated cells that carry distorted information are destroyed. However, a sharp increase in their number may be a manifestation of a tumor developing in the bone marrow. A slight increase is noted with a disease of viral infections. Lack of lymphocytes cause bacterial infections or lymphoma.
This is what a hematological blood test reveals. But that is far from all.
Red blood cells
Red blood cells are cells that maintain a normal level of oxygen in the blood and remove carbon dioxide, which is formed during breathing and blood circulation. With their help, enrichment of all tissues with nutrients is also provided. Providing oxygen metabolism is carried out using hemoglobin, which contains red blood cells. If its level is insufficient, hypoxia may occur.
Red blood cells are very easily compressed and can vary in size up to 3 times. The blood norm for men and women is 4-5 million / cubic meter. mm and 3.7-4.7 million cubic meters. mm respectively. If they are more than normal, this indicates problems with the kidneys, dehydration, the presence of tumor neoplasms, erythremia. Corticosteroid medications also increase red blood cell counts.
This easily determines a hematological blood test.
Their level decreases as a result of various anemia, during the period of bearing a child and with an excess of fluid in the tissues.
Platelets
Platelets provide the vascular walls and tissues of the body with the ability to remain intact, increasing their regenerative abilities. In addition, due to their property of clogging blood vessels, bleeding stops, blood coagulates.
Platelets can stick together not only between each other, but also with other cells, which is very important for protection against bacteria entering the bloodstream. After gluing pathogenic cells, the platelet is destroyed, also destroying the source of danger. The same property is used by the body to hold together the cells of veins and blood vessels.
Here's an informative hematological blood test. Norm - 180-320 thousand units / ฮผl. If it is elevated, then the likelihood of tuberculosis, leukemia, oncological processes in the liver and kidneys, arthritis, enteritis, exacerbation of infectious diseases, severe stress, intoxication of the body, anemia is not excluded.
If platelets are less than normal, diseases such as hepatitis, destruction of the liver and bone marrow, an excess and lack of thyroid hormones, alcoholism and long-term use of certain drugs are possible.
Description of other indicators in the analysis
What else can determine a hematological blood test? Decryption is quite simple.
After studying information about blood cells, the next in a row is the hematocrit index. This is the percentage of all blood cells and plasma. Normally, this number is in the range of 39-49%, if small deviations are recorded, this is not a reason for a more thorough check, since this indicator is needed only for general informational content.
Significant increases or decreases indicate that there is a problem with the number of certain blood cells. A high hematocrit is most often manifested with a prolonged lack of oxygen or water in the tissues of the body, various diseases of the blood and kidneys. Low hematocrit can be during pregnancy, anemia, hyperhydration.
Quite informative hematological analysis of blood. Decoding in adults and children is similar, but still there are certain differences.
It is also important to investigate the erythrocyte sedimentation rate - ESR. Normally, it should be 1-12 mm / hour, depending on gender and age. Too high ESR is typical for oncology and inflammation of various origins, kidney disease or hormonal imbalance caused, inter alia, by gestation and lactation, menstrual bleeding. The speed of MA decreases most often in cases of clotting and blood clotting disorders, which can cause incessant bleeding - hemophilia.
A hematological blood test can determine all these important indicators. Decryption should be carried out by a specialist.
Conclusion
Self-decoding of a hematological blood test can be used only for fact-finding information. All conclusions and appointments should be carried out only by a doctor, since other tests and examinations may be required to clarify the diagnosis.
In order to prevent the development of a large number of diseases or detect them at the initial stage, it is recommended to take such an analysis at least annually for the adult population, every six months, for children and the elderly. Deciphering the hematological analysis will help to avoid advanced forms of pathologies.