Clinical Hematology

Lecturer: Stephen Hou, Ph.D.

Lecture topics: Microscopic morphology of blood cells, Normal function of blood cells, Evaluation of hematology results in the diabetic patient.

Online Laboratory Module: Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, White blood cell (WBC) count, WBC differential.

The Complete Blood Count (CBC) includes some 18 different laboratory tests used by physicians to evaluate the health status of a patient. When a patient is anemic, the number of red blood cells (RBC) and/or concentration of hemoglobin in the RBC are decreased. Depending upon the cause of the anemia, the RBC look quite different microscopically. Conditions in which the number of RBC is elevated are less frequent. Should a patient have an infection, not only will the total WBC count be elevated but also a particular type of WBC will be increased in number.

During this week's online session, the students will virtually analyze some of the tests and results included in the CBC on a blood sample from the diabetic patient. In the early stages of the disease, hematology results are generally normal. Only after time has elapsed and the patient begins to have complications associated with the diabetes, will hematology results be abnormal. The students will evaluate the hematology results and determine whether or not complications are present.