Term | Definition |
10 mm/hr | Measures the rate at which anticoagulated RBCs will fall when allowed to settle in a thin columnar tube.
The ESR is a nonspecific screening test for inflammatory activity. |
12 Seconds | PT: Prothrombin time; an assay that monitors the extrinsic pathway leading to fibrin clot formation. Used to monitor coumadin therapy. |
14 g/dL | Hemoglobin (hgb) |
200,000/mm^3 | Platelet count |
30 Seconds | PTT: An assay that monitors the intrinsic pathway leading to fibrin clot formation. Used to monitor heparin therapy. |
4.5 million/mm^3 | |
45% | HCT Normal Values (Hematocrit) |
8,000/mm^3 | Leukocyte count |
AB Positive | |
Anemia | Conditions characterized by a deficiency in quantity or size of RBCs, or hemoglobin content. |
Anisocytosis | Describes general variation in RBC size. |
Band Neutrophils | Immature form of the segmented neutrophil requiring a separate classification. |
Basophils | Large, dark purple to black granules |
Christmas | Caused by a factor IX deficiency. |
DIC | A disorder, often triggered by tissue trauma, characterized by massive coagulation that depletes the clotting factors, followed by massive fibrinolysis, which in turn causes severe hemorrhage. |
Eosinophils | Contains large, red-orange to dirty-pink granules. |
Erythroblasts Fetalis | AKA hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN). A potentially fatal hemolytic disease, may occur when an Rh neg mother is pregnant with an Rh pos fetus. |
Extrinsic | Activation of the coagulation cascade when damaged tissue outside the circulatory system releases factor III into the circulatory system. |
Fibrinolysis | Initiated to break down the fibrin clot that is formed. |
Globin | |
Hematology | Scientific study of blood and blood-forming tissues. |
Heme | Iron-containing portion of the molecule combines with globin (the protein portion) and forms an activated form of hemoglobin that is ready to transport oxygen. |
Hemolytic Anemia | Characterized by increased hemolysis of red cells.
Often due to transfusion reactions, autoimmune disorders, or fetal blood that is incompatible with maternal blood. |
Hypertonic | A solution that has a higher concentration of solute outside the cell than inside. This will cause the cell to lose liquid and shrink (crenation). |
Hypotonic | A solution that has a lower concentration of solute outside the cell than inside. This will create a rush of liquid into the cell causing it to burst (lysis). |
Instrinsic | Activates the coagulation factors within the blood when endothelial lining of the vessel is damaged. |
Leukemia | A neoplastic condition characterized by the proliferation of immature leukocytes in the peripheral blood. |
Lymphocytes | Are produced primarily by the lymphoid tissue (lymph nodes, thymus, and spleen). Smallest normal WBC |
Megablastic Anemia | Results from a vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency, or both. |
Monocytes | Largest normal WBC. |
Normal Saline | 0.85 g/dl NaCl solution. |
O Negative | |
Plasmin | Enzyme responsible for digesting fibrin or fibrinogen. |
Poikilocytosis | Describes general variation in RBC shape. |
Polycythemia | Characterized by an excessive production of RBCs. Increased RBC count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit. |
Rh | Eighty-five percent of the population is pos, 15 percent is neg. |
Segmented Neutrophil | PMNs (polymorphonuclear neutrophils).
Most numerous granulocyte |
Shift To The Left | Increased numbers of bands. |
Shift To The Right | Increased numbers of segs. |
Thrombocytes | AKA platelets. |
Von Willebrand's | Caused by a factor VIII deficiency. |