Hematology Tests

Understanding

Hematology testing examines the cellular elements of blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Doctors order hematology testing when patients present with symptoms indicating blood disorders like anemia, infection, bleeding problems, or bone marrow diseases. The tests measure the blood cells' morphological features and quantify their levels in the blood to determine if they are in the normal range. Abnormal test results signify disturbed hematopoiesis and the presence of hematological diseases.

List of Hematology Tests Conducted at Heritage Hospitals

Heritage Hospital's advanced hematology lab in Varanasi uses fully-automated hematology analyzers to perform a complete blood count test. This common hematology test gives key information about all the significant cellular blood components. The analyzers can rapidly provide test results to aid prompt diagnosis and treatment planning. The lab also offers more specific hematology tests like:

1. Complete Blood Test

A complete blood count (CBC) is one of the most common hematology tests ordered by physicians. It measures several components and features of blood, providing an overview of a patient's general health. A CBC includes:

Test	Description	Normal Range
RBC count	Measures the number of red blood cells	M: 4.35-5.65 trillion cells/L, F: 3.92-5.13 trillion cells/L
WBC count	Measures the number of white blood cells	4,000-10,000 cells/microliter
Hemoglobin	Measures oxygen-carrying protein in red cells	M: 13.0-17.0 g/dL, F: 11.5-15.5 g/dL
Hematocrit	Measures the percentage of blood composed of red cells	M: 38.3%-48.6%, Female: 35.5%- 44.9%
Platelets	Measures cell fragments that help blood clot	150,000-400,000/mL
MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume)	Measures average size of RBCs	80-96 femtoliters
MCH (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin)	Measures average amount of hemoglobin per RBC	27-33 picograms
Neutrophils	Type of WBC, key in fighting infection	40-60% of WBCs
Monocytes	Type of WBC involved in removing pathogens	2-8% of WBCs
Eosinophils	Type of WBC involved in allergic reactions and parasitic infections	1-4% of WBCs
Basophils	Involved in allergic reactions	0.5-1% of WBCs

2. Coagulation Tests

Coagulation or clotting tests measure the blood's ability to clot and stop bleeding. Problems with coagulation can increase the risk of excessive or dangerous bleeding. Heritage Hospital performs best coagulation tests in Varanasi, including:

Test	Description	Indicative Condition
Prothrombin time (PT) and International Normalized Ratio (INR)	Measures blood clotting rate and effect of anticoagulants	Prolonged PT/INR indicates higher bleeding risk
Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)	Evaluates the intrinsic clotting pathway	Prolonged aPTT signals bleeding disorders or clotting factor deficiencies
Fibrinogen	Measures fibrinogen protein levels involved in clot formation	Low fibrinogen associated with bleeding disorders and liver disease
D-dimer	Detects fibrin degradation products	Elevated D-dimer indicates blood clots, sepsis, trauma, or certain cancers

3. Individual Clotting Factor Tests

Heritage Hospital offers specialized hematology tests in Varanasi measuring individual clotting factors in the blood. These help diagnose specific factor deficiencies that can lead to bleeding disorders. Our hematology laboratory in Varanasi can test levels of:

Factor	Description	Indicative Condition
VIII	Deficiency causes hemophilia A	The most common inherited bleeding disorder
IX	Deficiency leads to hemophilia B	The key to hemophilia B diagnosis and treatment monitoring
Von Willebrand factor	Assists platelet adhesion	Low levels cause von Willebrand disease
II, V, VII, X	Rare bleeding disorders due to deficiencies	Targeted testing for accurate diagnosis
XIII	Helps stabilise clots	Deficiency increases abnormal bleeding risk

Precise testing for individual clotting factors allows early detection of factor deficiencies before serious bleeding occurs. Our expertise aids evidence-based care for patients with inherited or acquired bleeding disorders.

4. Bone Marrow Testing

Bone marrow biopsy and aspiration provide information about marrow health and blood cell production. Reasons physicians may order bone marrow testing at Heritage Hospital include:

Diagnosing blood cancers like leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma
Staging cancers such as Hodgkin's lymphoma
Monitoring blood cancer treatment and remission
Identifying causes of unexplained anemia, thrombocytopenia, or leukopenia
Detecting blood diseases, including aplastic anemia, polycythemia vera, and myelodysplastic syndromes
During bone marrow aspiration, a special needle is used to withdraw liquid marrow for examination.

Clinical Applications of Hematology Tests

The hematology experts at Heritage Hospital leverage gold-standard blood testing to identify blood cell disorders spanning benign to life-threatening accurately. Detailed blood analysis provides actionable insights to diagnose:

Anemia: Hematology tests quickly detect lowered red blood cell, hemoglobin and hematocrit levels indicative of anemias. Further testing of iron, folic acid, B12 levels, and RBC size differentiates causal factors and guides appropriate treatment.
Bleeding Disorders: Abnormal platelet counts, blood clotting times and coagulation factor levels pinpoint myriad conditions preventing normal blood clotting. Specific factor assays inform therapies for hemophilia and von Willebrand disease.
Blood Cancers: Detailed enumeration of immature white blood cells by our automated analyzers coupled with microscopic review by our hematopathologists reliably identifies leukemia. Flow cytometry definitively diagnoses lymphoid malignancies.
Bone Marrow Failure Disorders: Reduced blood cell parameters prompt bone marrow sampling to determine causal disorders like aplastic anemia requiring prompt treatment.
Sickle Cell Disease: Hemoglobin electrophoresis reveals the abnormal hemoglobin S causing sickle RBCs. Management is tailored to genotype severity.
Sepsis: Elevated or decreasing white cell counts may signal severe infection requiring broad antibiotic therapies while awaiting blood culture results.

What to Expect with Diagnostic

Procedure Post Procedure

Procedure

Most hematology tests only require a blood sample collected through a vein puncture or finger prick. For some molecular and genetic testing, bone marrow samples obtained through aspiration may be required. Proper patient identification and adherence to the specified collection method ensure samples accurately reflect the patient’s condition.

Certain factors can influence results, so patients may be required to fast beforehand or avoid certain medicines that could temporarily impact blood cell parameters. Understanding necessary precautions and properly preparing enables high-quality specimens for reliable test results.

Post Procedure

The highly trained hematopathologists and clinical hematologists at Heritage Hospital Varanasitake great care in accurately interpreting every hematology test result, recognizing that each value provides clues about a patient's blood health. They analyze results not in isolation but in context - taking into account the patient's medical history, symptoms, age, gender, and results of other diagnostic tests.

Results outside of expected ranges indicate potential hematological disorders. Doctors then correlate abnormal hematology test results with the patient’s symptoms and additional diagnostic results to guide the diagnosis and treatment plan. Therefore, our experts look for trends and patterns across multiple test parameters suggestive of blood diseases, not just individual values falling outside the expected range.

FAQ’s

To detect abnormal blood indices, cancers, blood group, blood parasites etc.

Venous sample are collected and run in analyzers followed by manual recheck of abnormal values by pathologists.

Cost of the tests is inclusive of everything. The tests cost may be known from the Reception Counters.

Generally, prior payment of full cost is essential. However, in certain deserving cases the cost may be paid in two parts or discount may be permissible.

As per TAT schedule defined in test information booklet.

Processing is done by technicians and reporting is done by doctors of respective discipline.

Yes

Generally, tests does not require prior consent except in certain tests like FNAC, Bone Marrow Aspirations and Viral Marker.

Patient as well as Patient Attendant can sign the Consent form.

All the basic sterilization precautions are taken.

The patients are monitored for bleeding and pain at the site of procedure for 10-15 min.

None of the procedure done at the lab requires hospitalization.

As defined in test information booklet.

Syncope, Pain, Bleeding, Infections.

Yes, repeat tests may be performed free of cost on request by treating physician.

Yes

Hematology Tests

Hematology Tests

Overview