Question

Reasons why a haematology laboratory is important in biomedical science.

Answer 1

Haematology is a core discipline in pathology, and is represented in practically all pathology departments. The discipline consists of three main areas: blood counts, blood morphology and haemostasis.

Each of these areas employs a range of different skills and techniques, which are taught in the Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science programme.

Blood counts

In blood counts, the numbers and physical characteristics of blood cells are measured and logged by automated analysers, using combinations of electrical detection and flow cytometry. But even though laboratories are becoming increasingly automated, automation is only as good as the skill of the operator allows.

Haematology is no exception and the knowledge you gain will help you to be confident that you are releasing reliable results. It's important that you know the manual techniques underpinning the automation, so you will also learn these as part of the course.

Blood morphology

Variation in blood count results provides important diagnostic information, and a percentage of samples are forwarded for further investigation in blood morphology—especially when significant abnormalities are suspected and need to be confirmed.

Here, thin smears of blood are stained and manually examined under an optical microscope.

The teaching you receive on the Medical Laboratory Science course is just the foundation for competency in Morphology: continuous learning and review are a feature of this area, making it constantly challenging and interesting.

Haemostasis

Haemostasis is concerned with the functioning and control mechanisms of blood coagulation. This includes areas as diverse as the monitoring of patients' therapies, to detection of dangerous conditions such as coagulopathies and clotting tendencies.

Plasma proteins and platelets function together in a highly complex and dynamic system, making this a challenging and fascinating area in which to work.

The Hematology Laboratory provides routine hematology assays for Yale Medical Center patients and specialty hematology testing for both the Medical Center and Outreach. Standard consultative diagnostics in the Hematology Laboratory include:

• “reflex” analysis of blood smears and cytopathologic examination of body fluids
• directed blood screening for parasites,
• laboratory evaluation of coagulopathies and hypercoagulability,
• identification of abnormal hemoglobins/thalassemia,
• cytochemistries on blood and bone marrow,
• specialty testing for hematologic and related diseases such as chronic granulomatous disease; hereditary spherocytosis; chronic lead poisoning; and sickle cell disease.

Our clinical pathologists are available seven days a week to render diagnoses and recommend appropriate testing for ordering clinicians.

The Hematology Laboratory works closely with Flow Cytometry, Molecular Diagnostics, and Cytogenetics to deliver comprehensive, clinical diagnostic care for a range of disorders. The laboratory has been a leader in autoverification of routine hematology testing to speed both urgent care and protocol-driven clinical management, as well as cutting edge diagnostics for rapid identification of sepsis and hypercoagulable risk.

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