Hematology
Hematology (or haematology) is the clinical study of blood, blood-forming organs, and blood-related diseases. Blood is composed of approximately 45% cellular components, such as red blood cells (RBCs, erythrocytes), white blood cells (WBCs, leukocytes), and platelets, and about 55% plasma, playing a crucial role in oxygen transportation, body temperature regulation, and immune system support. The cellular components of blood are key to understanding, diagnosing, predicting, and treating a wide range of hematologic diseases and disorders, including blood infections, blood cell cancers, genetic blood disorders, autoimmune conditions, and complications arising from transfusions and treatments such as chemotherapy, which can affect blood cells. Hematology is essential for evaluating and managing conditions that impact the blood and its associated functions in the body.
Overview
Hematology and Oncology
Hematologists play a critical role in oncology, especially in diagnosing and treating blood cancers such as lymphoma, leukemia, and myeloma, which account for approximately 10% of all new cancer diagnoses. These cancers affect blood cell production or behavior and can be treated with a combination of hematology validation, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and stem cell transplantation.
Hematology Staining and Analysis
Histological staining of blood and related tissues has been the cornerstone of hematology analysis since the late 19th century. Techniques such as Pappenheim’s panoptic stain, along with Giemsa, Wright, and Leishman staining, remain the standard in hematological diagnostics. While manual analysis was once the norm, modern techniques now rely on semi- or fully automatic staining systems that can efficiently determine key diagnostic parameters. Blood and bone marrow smears are typically analyzed using these stains in combination with antibody or genetic analysis when necessary.