Results
*1pg = 10-12g
Discussion
After looking at the results, we can see that all three blood samples are different. This means that we have some problems here but we can identify what the problems are by the results provided.
Red blood cells are the most common type of and the body's principal means of delivering to the body tissues via the . The cells are filled with , a that can bind to oxygen. They take up oxygen in the or and release it while squeezing through the body's . The blood's red color is due to the color of hemoglobin. In humans, red blood cells develop in the , take the form of flexible biconcave disks, lack a , subcellular and the ability to , and live for about 120 days.
For a male a healthy red blood cell (RBC) count is between 4.6 and 6 Million/microlitre (M/ml). For a woman it is slightly less at 4.2 to 5 M/ml. A child may have a lower count as their immune system is not yet fully evolved and so may have a reading of 3.8 to 5.5 M/ml.
Packed cell volume (PCV) or haematocrit (Hct) is a measure of the percentage of red blood cells to the total blood volume. A low haematocrit may indicate anaemia, blood loss, bone marrow failure, leukaemia, multiple myeloma, nutritional deficiency, over-hydration or rheumatoid arthritis. The healthy haematocrit level for blood is 46% in men and 38% in women. Whilst the healthy level of haemoglobin in a male is 13.5-17.5 g/100ml and 11.5 to 15.5 g/100ml in women.
The colour index of you blood is obtained by dividing the haemoglobin percentage by the red blood cell percentage of the patients blood. A healthy level for the colour index is 1.
The mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, or MCHC, is a measure of the concentration of in a given volume of packed . It is reported as part of a standard . It is calculated by dividing the hemoglobin by the . A normal value is 32 to 36 g/dl.
Sample A
From looking at the results I have concluded that sample A is healthy. Firstly the RBC count falls in between the averages with a reading of 5.27 with the normal ranges from 4.5 – 6.5. Secondly his haematocrit count is at a healthy level with a reading of 48% and his Hb content of blood is also of a healthy level. Although his colour blood index is above the norm, anything usually above this suggests that they might suffer from anaemia; anaemia is a condition where you do not have enough haemoglobin in your blood. It can make you feel tired, breathless and faint. The most common type of anaemia is caused when there is not enough iron in the body. This is known as iron-deficiency anaemia. But sample A does not have to worry about this as his reading is just slightly above.
Sample B
We can therefore say that sample B is likely to have anemia. Anaemia is a condition where you do not have enough haemoglobin in your blood. It can make you feel tired, breathless and faint. The most common type of anaemia is caused when there is not enough iron in the body. This is known as iron-deficiency anaemia. If a doctor suspects you have iron-deficiency anaemia, he or she will probably ask you to have a blood test called a full blood count (FBC). The normal ranges can be viewed above, her haemoglobin levels are lower than the normal range, she has anaemia.
If your haemoglobin is low, and your red cells are small, you may have iron deficiency. Other tests may be needed to give an idea of your body's store of iron.
The best way to prevent iron-deficiency anaemia is to eat a diet that contains plenty of iron. ‘The recommended daily amount is 8.7mg a day for men and 14.8mg a day for women’ (Nestle, Marion 2002). Good sources of iron include: liver, meat, beans, nuts, dried fruit, whole grains (such as brown rice), fortified breakfast cereals, and most dark-green leafy vegetables (such as watercress). It's a good idea to eat foods containing vitamin C at the same time as eating sources of iron because this helps with iron absorption. Good sources of vitamin C include peppers, fruit juice, sweet potatoes, oranges and kiwi fruit.
However they also have a low Haematocrit percentage, this is normally a sign that there is a high demand for Iron. The high demand is brought about by there being a lack of Iron in the blood to begin with. They also have a Hb content level below the recommended and their colour index Is slightly below 1 and a mean corpuscular Hb level of 29pg which both suggest they are healthy. Therefore I can conclude that they are deficient in Iron.
Sample C
High values can be caused by a lack of oxygen (which can occur from living at high altitude), smoking, exposure to carbon monoxide, long-term lung disease, certain forms of heart disease, kidney disease, or polycythemia vera, a rare disorder of the bone marrow. A high value can also be caused by too little water in the body (dehydration), a result of drinking too little; other causes include frequent or , excessive sweating, severe burns, and the use of . A high Hb suggests they suffer from dehydration, pulmonary fibrosis, polycythaemia or heart disease. The other two variables are at a healthy level so does not need to be worried about. I can conclude then that sample c suffers from Polycythaemia Vera.
Accuracy and Reliability
Accuracy and reliability for results was brought about by ensuring great care was taken when handling the blood. The patient was made to feel as relaxed and at ease as possible by ensuring a qualified phlebotomist. The safety was at a maximum by ensuring everyone in the lab was wearing goggles and lab coats.
Conclusion
I have come to the conclusion that the only healthy patient is blood sample A. Blood sample B is deficient in Iron, and very likely to be suffering with anaemia. Whilst blood sample C is suffer from Polycythaemia Vera. Polycythaemia Vera is a rare medical condition that causes a high red cell count. Red cells make up the majority of blood cells. They transport oxygen through the body, so their main content is the oxygen-carrying protein, haemoglobin. PV is one of a group of diseases called myeloproliferative diseases (MPDs) where the cells that produce blood cells develop abnormally. Rarely, a high red cell count can also occur in the other MPDs - and myelofibrosis (MF). The main problem caused by polycythaemia vera is that the high number of red cells increases the blood's 'thickness' (viscosity). Blood flow to organs is reduced and, rarely, blood clots can form.
References
Hoffbrand, A.V. and Pettit, J.F. (2001) Essential Haematology. Blackwell Science
Hall, R. and Malia, R.G. (1991) Medical Laboratory Haematology. Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd, Second Ediction
J. and Crowther, D.C (2009) haematocrit (HCT, (Packet cell volume, PCV)), GPNotebook
Kumar, V et al. (2004). Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Company