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A 4-year-old boy is taken to the pediatrician following three weeks of fatigue, weakness, and sore throat. He appears pale and has multiple bruises on his arms and legs. The physician suspects that he has leukemia and orders a complete blood count (CBC). The medical assistant draws blood from the little boy and sends it to the Hematology department.
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The Medical Laboratory Technician in the Hematology department will perform the CBC on an automated analyzer that will count the patient's red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, and measure his hemoglobin level.
She will examine a stained smear of the patient's blood under the microscope, looking for immature white blood cells--a sign of leukemia. Further tests will be performed to determine the exact type of leukemia so that appropriate therapy can be given. |
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Tests performed in the Hematology department also aid in the diagnosis of anemia, infections, allergies, and inherited bleeding disorders like hemophilia. Blood from patients on "blood thinners" is analyzed in this department to assist the physician in determining the appropriate dose for the patient.
The Medical Laboratory Technicians and Medical Technologists who work in Hematology play a key role in the diagnosis and treatment of anemias, leukemias, and bleeding disorders. |
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