Hematology

Hematology is the study of blood. Complete blood counts (CBCS) are routinely performed in sick patients because abnormalities present in the peripheral blood can indicate what type of disease process is occurring in the patient. This chapter helps the pathologist become familiar with blood cell maturation and development (hematopoiesis). It helps them to understand erythrocyte, leukocyte, and platelet functions; identify changes in erythrocyte, leukocyte, and platelet morphology; determine counts; identify inclusions within blood cells; and describe abnormalities on a complete blood cell profile. White blood cells are important components of the immune system. The subtypes of leukocytes typically observed in the peripheral blood include neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes. The chapter also describes the functions of blood, and outlines methods for obtaining a CBC and performing additional hematologic tests. The most common way to acquire blood cell parameters is by using an automated hematology analyzer.