As you may know Hematology is a branch of Medical Laboratory Science and it is considered as one of the most important Departments in the medical Laboratory and am here today to tell you about this amazing Speciality without any further delay Lets Start.
What is Hematology?
Hematology in very simple definition is (Science of Blood Diseases) where All blood cells are studied, monitored and evaluated for the diseases and defects that happens in their physiology and structure.
Hematologists “those who are specialized in Hematology” are two Types (Doctors or Technitians/Scientists) but in this blog post we are talking about those who are medical laboratory Technologists, they are responsible for doing blood cells tests and evaluating many blood cell levels and functions.
Branches of Hematology
Hematology includes 4 main branches
- Anemia (Red Blood Cells Disorders)
- Leukemia (White Blood Cells Disorders)
- Hemostasis (Platelets Normal and Abnormal State & Disorders)
- Blood Banking
Well this branch focuses on studying and evaluating the Red blood cell’s count, Structural & functunal Changes. We use different techniqes to do the tests in this branch such as (Manual or automated RBCs Count, Blood film and Peripheral Blood Picture, Giemsa staining, Hemoglobin estimation…. etc)
Anemia is also different types and these types are being divided based on the Size and Hemoglobin content of the RBCs. Depending on that anemia is either (Normocytic Normochromic, Microcytic Hypochromic, or Macrocytic) and each one of them includes Different Types with different morphological characteristics of red blood cells under microscope.
2. Leukemia
Leukemia in simple definition is (White Blood Cells Cancer), and this branch focuses on studiying the White blood Cells and their function, Normally White Blood Cells are supposed to Gaurd the human body from Pathogens and fight harmfull diseases but in some cases when there is an abnormal growth of WBCs this is Called Leukemia where the Total WBCs Count and Function is affected.
We use different techniqes to do the tests in this branch such as (Manual or automated WBCs Count, Blood film and Peripheral Blood Picture, Giemsa staining, Bone Marrow film…. etc)
Leukemia is also different types and these types are being divided based on the Progression of the disease and the Type of White blood Cell that is affected (Neutophil, Basophil, Monocyte, Lymphocyte, Eosinophil).
3. Hemostasis
This Branch of Hematology Concerns with studying Platelets and their Disorders. Platelets are responsible for Maintaining Blood within the blood vessels but in some cases disorders and abnormalities might happen to the platelets which affects the blood circulation and clotting.
We use different techniqes to do the tests in this branch such as (Manual or automated Platelets Count, Blood film and Peripheral Blood Picture, Giemsa staining, Pt, ApTT, INR…. etc)
Hemostatic Disorders are differentiated based on the type of Defect (Count, Clotting Factor Deficiency, Malignancy, Pathologic disease, etc)
4. Blood Banking
When it comes to Blood Banking it is another story, in blood banking we focus on blood transfusion medicine where blood compnents (Cells, Plasma, Platelets) are transfused from one person to another. This is not that easy because before we transfuse blood between two person we must make sure that this Donor’s blood type is matched with the reciepient’s Blood Type.
We use different techniqes to do the tests in this branch such as (Blood Grouping, Cross matching, Antihuman globulin Test, etc……)
Red Blood Cells contains Antigens on their surface Known as Blood Groups and theose blood groups will determine the compatibility between the donor and reciepient.