Overview

• Study of blood cells.
• Red cells via:
  • Packed cell volume (PCV) or hematocrit.
  • Red blood cell (RBC) count Hematology: red blood cell count.
  • RBC indices MCV Hematology: mean corpuscular volume , MCH Hematology: mean corpuscular hemoglobin , MCHC Hematology: mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration.
  • Reticulocyte count Hematology: reticulocyte count.
  • Hemoglobin (Hb) concentration Hematology: hemoglobin concentration.
  • Erythrocyte morphology.
• White cells via:
  • Leukocyte (WBC) count Hematology: leukocyte (WBC) and morphology.
  • Differential WBC.
• Platelets Hematology: platelet count via:
  • Platelet count and morphology.
  • Automated and/or manual methods.
  • Stained blood smear Hematology: complete blood count (CBC).

Sampling

Tests

Availability

• Widely available at commercial laboratories.
• Blood smears can be examined in practice. Some in-hospital analyzers or cell counting methods now available.

Validity

Sensitivity

• Generally moderate to low unless blood parasites are recognized.

Specificity

• Generally moderate to low unless blood parasites are recognized.

Result Data

Further Reading

Publications

Referred papers

• Recent references from VetMedResource and PubMed.

Other sources of information

• Cowell R L, Tyler R D & Meinkoth J H (1999) Diagnostic Cytology and Hematology of the Dog and Cat. 2nd edn. Mosby, USA.
• Duncan J R, Prasse K W & Mahaffey E A (1994) Veterinary Laboratory Medicine. Clinical Pathology. 3rd edn. Iowa University Press, USA.
• Jain N C (1993) Essentials of Veterinary Hematology. Lea & Febiger, USA.