home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
CD-ROM Today (UK) (Spanish) 15
/
CDRT.iso
/
dp
/
0189
/
01895.txt
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1994-01-17
|
3KB
|
66 lines
$Unique_ID{BRK01895}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{What is a Complete Blood Count?}
$Subject{Complete Blood Count counts test tests circulatory system identify
cell cells Red hemoglobin white leukocyte leukocytes platelet platelets anemia
anemias leukemia leukemias disease diseases red-cell red-cells white
white-cell white-cells}
$Volume{}
$Log{
Blood Cell Count Usage in Diagnosis*0002102.scf
Blood Sample After Separation*0002101.scf
Eosinophil and Basophil (White) Blood Cells*0002106.scf
Lymphocyte (White) Blood Cells*0002105.scf
Neutrophil and Monocyte (White) Blood Cells*0002104.scf
Red Blood Cells*0002103.scf}
Copyright (c) 1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
What is a Complete Blood Count?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QUESTION: I know from both experience and my reading that there are literally
hundreds of different blood tests for all sorts of things. But I can't figure
out how they could all be done at once, as for example a complete blood test.
Wouldn't that use more blood than a body has in its veins? In what terrible
situation would you have to test for everything in this fashion? I know they
do this type of testing, for I heard a doctor order one for a friend of mine
in the hospital.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANSWER: You weren't paying close attention, for the order must have been for
a complete blood "count" not a complete blood "test". You are right however,
it would be practically impossible to run all the blood tests available to
medical science on one person at one time. Though I have never made the
calculation, you might also be correct in assuming there is insufficient blood
available, although the average adult male does have about 5 quarts of blood
in the circulatory system.
However a complete blood count takes but a few drops of blood, for it is
used to actually count and identify the cells which form part of the blood.
Red cells, which also lend their color to blood (from the hemoglobin they
contain) are the most numerous, about 20 trillion in the average human adult,
or about 4-6 million in a cubic millimeter. There are about 20 million white
blood cells (leukocytes) in the body, and they are the body's primary defense
against foreign substances. The last type are platelets, and they are the
least numerous from 150,000 to 350,000 per cubic millimeter. A blood count in
the "old days" only used a mere fraction of a cubic millimeter, so a few
hundred cells could be counted and then a mathematical formula used to figure
out the total in a whole cubic millimeter (mm^3). Today's modern electronic
devices make the process even more easy to accomplish, and more reliable.
The blood count is used to evaluate anemias, discover certain kinds of
white cells which are present during some types of infections, detect
leukemias, and other clues about diseases that may be present. It is a very
common test, used routinely to evaluate this most important substance in the
body.
----------------
The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.