What is a blood cell count?
Counting and examining blood cells are very important in the diagnosis of blood cell diseases. Blood cell counts are used during diagnosis, treatment and follow up to determine the health of the patient. Blood cell counts alone cannot determine if a patient has a blood related cancer. However, blood cell counts can alert the physician if further testing is needed. To count and/or examine blood cells, the blood must be collected in a tube that has an anticoagulant in it to prevent blood clotting. By so doing the cells are preserved, suspended in plasma, and can be stored for several hours without impairing the accuracy of the results. To do a blood count, a sample of blood usually is taken from a vein in the crease of the forearm, placed in a tube containing an anticoagulant and transported to a hematology laboratory. In the laboratory, a sample of the blood is put in a machine that can count red and white cells and platelets and measure the blood hemoglobin. Also, a small drop of blood
