Blood Test
Blood Test
Blood Test
It is the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, that means, the velocity of your red
blood cells to "fall down" in a suspension. This parameter reflects a systemic
inflammatory process trough your body, it does not have to be necessarily an
infection but that's very probable.
The sed rate, or erythrocyte sedimentation rate, is another method for measuring
swelling and inflamma-
tion of the muscles. Doctors use the sed rate to watch the progress of the muscle
inflammation. This test
is not specific to a particular disease but to the presence of the inflammation.
For this test, technicians mix red blood cells from the blood sample in a prepared
test tube. They
measure the length of time it takes these cells to settle to the bottom of the
tube. For males, the normal
rate falls between 0 and 15 millimeters per hour; females, 0 to 20 millimeters per
hour. The sed rate will
be higher with more inflammation. (The sed rate may be slightly higher if you are
older or pregnant.)
ESR and CRP are blood tests that detect inflammation. Thses are useful tests to
help diagnose and monitor the activity of certain diseases.
If you have inflammation in a part of your body then extra protein is often
released from the site of inflammation and circulates in the bloodstream. The CRP
and ESR blood tests are commonly used to detect this increase in protein, and so
are 'markers' of inflammation.
If certain proteins cover red cells, these will stick to each other and cause the
red cells to fall more quickly. So, a high ESR indicates that you have some
inflammation, somewhere in the body.
The ESR and CRP level are raised many inflammatory conditions. For example:
Some conditions lower the ESR. For example, heart failure, polycythaemia, sickle-
cell anaemia, and cryoglobulinaemia.
Both tests are useful. However, changes in the CRP are more rapid. So, for example,
a fall in the CRP within days of starting treatment for certain conditions is a
useful way of knowing that treatment is working. This may be important to know when
treating a serious infection or a severe flare up of an inflammatory condition. For
example, if the CRP level does not fall, it may indicate that the treatment is not
working and may prompt a doctor to switch to a different treatment.
NEUTROPHILS
This granulocyte has very tiny light staining granules (the granules are very
difficult to see). The nucleus is frequently multi-lobed with lobes connected by
thin strands of nuclear material. These cells are capable of phagocytizing foreign
cells, toxins, and viruses.
When taking a Differential WBC Count of normal blood, this type of cell would be
the most numerous. Normally, neutrophils account for 50-70% of all leukocytes. If
the count exceeds this amount, the cause is usually due to an acute infection such
as appendicitis, smallpox or rheumatic fever. If the count is considerably less, it
may be due to a viral infection such as influenza, hepatitis, or rubella.
EOSINOPHIL
This granulocyte has large granules (A) which are acidophilic and appear pink (or
red) in a stained preparation. This micrograph was color enhanced to illustrate
this feature. The nucleus often has two lobes connected by a band of nuclear
material. (Does it looks like a telephone receiver?) The granules contain digestive
enzymes that are particularly effective against parasitic worms in their larval
form. These cells also phagocytize antigen - antibody complexes.
These cells account for less than 5% of the WBC's. Increases beyond this amount may
be due to parasitic diseases, bronchial asthma or hay fever. Eosinopenia may occur
when the body is severely stressed.
BASOPHIL
The basophilic granules in this cell are large, stain deep blue to purple, and are
often so numerous they mask the nucleus. These granules contain histamines (cause
vasodilation) and heparin (anticoagulant).
In a Differential WBC Count we rarely see these as they represent less than 1% of
all leukocytes. If the count showed an abnormally high number of these cells,
hemolytic anemia or chicken pox may be the cause.
LYMPHOCYTE
The lymphocyte is an agranular cell with very clear cytoplasm which stains pale
blue. Its nucleus is very large for the size of the cell and stains dark purple.
(Notice that the nucleus almost fills the cell leaving a very thin rim of
cytoplasm.) This cell is much smaller than the three granulocytes (which are all
about the same size). These cells play an important role in our immune response.
The T-lymphocytes act against virus infected cells and tumor cells. The B-
lymphocytes produce antibodies.
This is the second most numerous leukocyte, accounting for 25-35% of the cells
counted in a Differential WBC Count. When the number of these cells exceeds the
normal amount, one would suspect infectious mononucleosis or a chronic infection.
Patients with AIDS keep a careful watch on their T-cell level, an indicator of the
AIDS virus' activity.
MONOCYTE
This cell is the largest of the leukocytes and is agranular. The nucleus is most
often "U" or kidney bean shaped; the cytoplasm is abundant and light blue (more
blue than this micrograph illustrates). These cells leave the blood stream
(diapedesis) to become macrophages. As a monocyte or macrophage, these cells are
phagocytic and defend the body against viruses and bacteria.
These cells account for 3-9% of all leukocytes. In people with malaria,
endocarditis, typhoid fever, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, monocytes increase
in number.